Many people who were unable to view Kimmel’s return criticized TV stations for their move after Couric discussed it

Katie Couric
Katie Couric told how TV stations were boycotting Kimmel’s show (Image: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

Former CBS host Katie Couric has spoken out about some TV stations refusing to air Jimmy Kimmel’s return.

Couric, the founder of multimedia news and production company Katie Couric Media, took to Instagram to share that Nexstar and Sinclair, which run dozens of stations affiliated with ABC, announced they would continue to replace the show with regular programming.

It comes after ABC and Disney confirmed on Monday (September 22) that Kimmel’s show, Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be back on air after “thoughtful conversations with Jimmy.”

Many people who were unable to view Kimmel’s return rushed to the comment section to discuss her post, with many criticizing the stations for their move, and calling for people to boycott Nexstar and Sinclair and their advertisers.

One person wrote, “Where do we get information about what (or who) Sinclair and Nexstar own? It’s time for a major boycott!!”

Kimmel
Kimmel’s show was pulled over his comments about Charlie Kirk’s death (Image: ABC)

Another said, “This affects me. It sickens me that I won’t be able to watch Jimmy. Shame on this country for bowing down to facism!”

A third wrote, “My local ABC channel 33 in Youngstown, Ohio is not airing Jimmy Kimmel. Please continue the boycott!!”

“Looks like it’s time to boycott Sinclair and Nexstar and those companies that advertise on their sites! Keep up the good pressure!!”, a fourth said.

A fifth wrote, “Boycott Sinclair and Nexstar Stations, also those that advertise on those stations!”

Another person added, “WE need to boycott those who advertise with Nexstar & Sinclair. I believe the Christian Nationalist media group loves money more than anything else!!!!”

Discussing its move, Sinclair’s vice-chairman Jason Smith said, “Mr Kimmel’s remarks were inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country.”

Nexstar also said in a statement, “Our stations will focus on continuing to produce local news and other programming relevant to their respective markets.”

KIMMEL
Some people called for a boycott of the stations over them not airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! (Image: Disney via Getty Images)

It also explained Jimmy Kimmel Live! will “be available nationwide on multiple Disney-owned streaming products.”

Kimmel’s show was pulled off the air after his comments on September 15 that Donald Trump and his allies were “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them” and trying to “score political points from it.”

He also compared Trump’s reaction to the influencer’s murder to “how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.”

The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the US broadcasting regulator, accused Kimmel of misleading viewers because officials had said the 22-year-old man accused of murdering Kirk in Utah was “deeply indoctrinated with leftist ideology.”