Jimmy Kimmel staff learn if they will be paid after show is axed over Charlie Kirk comments

Staff who work on Jimmy Kimmel Live! have been given an update on their jobs after the show was pulled off airfollowing comments host Jimmy made about Charlie Kirk, the US political activist shot dead earlier this month.

The 57-year-old TV host and comedian's show was axed after he suggested Kirk's suspected shooter Tyler Robinson, 22, was Republican and that the 'MAGA gang' were "working very hard to capitalise on the murder of Charlie Kirk".

During Monday's broadcast, Kimmel opened the show saying: "We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang trying to characterise this kid who killed Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them."

He then went on to mock President Trump's response to a question from the press about how he was mourning Kirk's death, which lead to the world leader bafflingly talking about the White House's new ballroom construction instead.

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Kirk was killed aged 31 as he spoke at an event at Utah Valley University on September 10. Robinson has since appeared in court, facing charges of aggravated murder over his death.

ABC, which airs Kimmel's show, said it would not be showing Jimmy Kimmel Live! "for the foreseeable future". While the network's affiliate group, Nexstar Communications, called Kimmel’s comments "offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse".

Disney, who owns ABC, wanted Kimmel to apologise for his comments around the killer of Charlie Kirk. While Kimmel had informed Disney bosses that he planned to address his remarks on Wednesday's episode, he said he was not willing to say sorry.

Though the show has been axed for now and staff were seen packing up and leaving the Hollywood studio this week, it's reported they will still be paid while an agreement for the late night talk show is reached, suggesting it could well be back on air soon.

According to Deadline, a note was sent out to staff this week to inform them of the move as talks between the company and Kimmel continue.

What Kimmel will do next remains to be seen, but he is said to be popular with colleagues and is not thought to want any decision he makes to negatively impact them, particularly after many were hit by writers' strikes, LA wildfires and the pandemic in recent years.

But the decision to axe Kimmel's show will likely please one person more than any other. Celebrating on Truth Social, Trump wrote: "Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED.

"Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done. Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible.

"That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!! President DJT."

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