Charlie Kirk Producer Slams Jimmy Kimmel Over Alleged Apology as Suspension Sparks Backlash

An executive producer for Charlie Kirk's show criticized Jimmy Kimmel on Wednesday for not apologizing for on-air remarks about Kirk's murder, saying the late-night host's comments targeted conservatives and helped fuel political violence. Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of The Charlie Kirk Show, told Fox News' America’s Newsroom that Kimmel should have apologized for suggesting the shooter of Charlie Kirk was connected to the MAGA movement, arguing that such framing implies it is acceptable to lie about conservatives and that their lives do not matter. "When someone like Jimmy Kimmel says the shooter of Charlie was MAGA, what he’s really saying is that it’s OK to lie about conservatives, that their lives don’t matter, that his political agenda and cultural agenda is more important than the life of my friend, who was just taken from us and robbed from us," Kolvet said Wednesday on Fox News’ America’s Newsroom.

Kimmel’s remarks and the surrounding controversy have followed his return to television after ABC suspended his show indefinitely last week due to comments in a Monday monologue. In that address, Kimmel described the term "MAGA gang" as attempting to characterize Kirk’s shooter as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it. On Tuesday night’s comeback, he tearfully apologized, saying it was never his intention to blame any specific group and acknowledging that the remarks felt ill-timed or unclear to some viewers. "Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of ... it was obviously a deeply disturbed individual," Kimmel said. "That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make, but I understand that to some that felt either ill-timed or unclear or maybe both. And for those who think I did point a finger, I get why you’re upset. If the situation was reversed, there’s a good chance I would have felt the same way."

The dispute centers on the motive behind the Sept. 10 fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk on campus at Utah Valley University. Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old suspect, remains the subject of investigation. Investigators have not established a political motive for the crime. Shell casings found at the scene reference anti-fascism, but authorities have not confirmed any link to a left-wing group. Some conservatives, including former President Donald Trump, have suggested a broader political dimension to the shooting, though investigators have not tied Robinson to any organized movement. Kolvet and others have argued that linking Kirk’s murder to a political faction is inaccurate and harmful to civil discourse.

Kolvet, in posts on X, called Kimmel an "unrepentant liar" who tried to blame Charlie’s assassination on the country that spent the last two weeks praying and holding vigils. In a separate post, he criticized the host’s tears as a stunt meant to salvage his career rather than confront the truth. "Kimmel is an unrepentant liar who tried to blame Charlie’s assassination on the part of the country that just spent the last 2 weeks praying and holding vigils," Kolvet wrote. "What he’s really saying is that he still thinks it’s fair game to slander conservatives." He added that Kimmel would rather advance his political and cultural agenda than face the truth, and that meaningful reconciliation requires accountability for statements made on air.

The broader reaction to the suspension has been polarized. More than 400 celebrities signed a letter condemning ABC’s decision, framing it as a threat to free speech. Critics argued the suspension may run counter to First Amendment protections, while a number of conservative voices, including Sen. Ted Cruz, criticized the move as a dangerous precedent. Cruz warned that if political power is used to silence critics, the practice could later be turned against opponents of any party. "Going down this road, there will come a time when a Democrat wins again. They will silence us," he said. "They will use this power, and they will use it ruthlessly, and that is dangerous."

Kimmel’s representatives did not respond to requests for comment, and ABC has not released new details about the suspension beyond its initial statement. The network has stood by the decision pending an internal review of the remarks in question.

The episode also touched on ongoing questions about how public figures speak about violence and the line between political expression and incitement. Investigators continue to examine the Utah Valley incident, though there is no confirmation of a political motive. The case has intensified debate over media coverage of politically charged crimes and how late-night hosts frame public safety in the wake of such events.

During his monologue Tuesday, Kimmel thanked Cruz for standing up for the First Amendment and acknowledged the complexity of the situation. He did not revisit the specific controversy in detail, but his remarks suggested an intent to move forward while recognizing the controversy his comments sparked.

The episode now stands as a flashpoint in the broader conversation about media accountability, free expression, and the role of late-night television in political discourse. As investigations continue and public reaction remains divided, the question of accountability for on-air statements that touch on real-world violence remains a focal point for audiences and critics alike.

As the narrative evolves, observers will watch how both media personalities and political figures navigate the balance between commentary and responsibility in a climate where violence and rhetoric often intersect.