Cousin hints more bombshells ahead as Kimmel suspension continues

ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely last week after a monologue in which Kimmel discussed Charlie Kirk’s death and the man believed to be involved, prompting criticism from critics and concerns within ABC about how such content could affect its broadcasts. The network said the show would be pre-empted while executives review the remarks and determine next steps, providing no timetable for a return. The decision has reverberated through Kimmel’s production team and drew attention from other industry players as executives and partners assess the boundaries of late-night comedy in a fraught political moment.

On Monday, Sal Iacono, Kimmel’s cousin and a longtime writer for the show, appeared on The Bill Simmons Podcast and signaled that the story was far from finished. He said there are a couple of bombshells still there. “We’re going to be all right. Everything’s going to be just fine,” Iacono added, describing the outlook for the show’s staffers. He also noted that there wasn’t much more he could say publicly, framing the matter as emotionally charged and tightly controlled by those with knowledge of the situation. “That’s all I have to say right now,” he emphasized, before joking that Kimmel might pivot to another line of work, suggesting he could become a pop-up chef in the South Bay and would “do a great job.” Iacono also warned that he and the rest of the team “know too much,” insisting that discussing the matter further was unwise. “I can’t really say anything,” he continued, and stressed that it was better if the public refrain from speculating about what happened behind the scenes. Not only was he speaking for himself, he said, but for other staffers who share that knowledge and concern.

The suspension came after Kimmel’s remarks about the events surrounding Charlie Kirk and the man suspected in the incident. In his monologue, Kimmel referenced Tyler Robinson, the person mentioned as the assassin, and used humor to critique how then-President Trump addressed questions about the death, quipping that the politician had moved on by discussing White House renovations. The exchange touched a nerve across political and media circles, prompting action from regulators and broadcast partners. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr publicly signaled the possibility of an official inquiry into Kimmel’s remarks, while former President Trump amplified the controversy on Truth Social by declaring that the show had been “cancelled.” Nexstar Media Group, ABC’s largest local-station partner, issued a statement indicating it could pull the program if content continued, and ABC subsequently announced that Kimmel’s program would remain pre-empted indefinitely while the matter was reviewed.

Kimmel’s inner circle has described the host as livid about the network’s decision, while others close to the production have indicated that he had already been considering how to navigate his relationship with ABC in light of broader creative and business tensions. The dynamic underscores how a single on-air moment can escalate into a high-stakes public-relations and corporate governance issue for a late-night franchise.

The interview with Iacono added a fresh twist to the ongoing narrative, with the cousin reiterating that more disclosures could be forthcoming. He stressed that the family and the show’s staffers are in a difficult position, balancing loyalty to colleagues with the consequences of the controversy. “There are a couple of bombshells still there,” he repeated, framing the episodes as part of a broader arc that might reshape the public’s understanding of what occurred behind the scenes. The comments leave fans and industry observers awaiting further developments as the suspension drags on and the media landscape continues to digest the implications for Kimmel’s brand, ABC’s trust with viewers, and the broader norms governing political and jokey commentary on late-night television.