‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ crew will continue to get paid but show’s fate remains uncertain

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' remains off the air following its sudden suspension, but there’s some relief behind the scenes.

According to Deadline, the show’s crew will continue to be paid through next week. The move comes as Disney and host Jimmy Kimmel continue discussions about the program’s future.

Will the show return as usual, or is it facing a shutdown? The question remains unresolved for now.

Jimmy Kimmel’s crew to be paid as show’s future hangs in balance

The fate of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' is still unclear, leaving an estimated 200 to 250 staff in a difficult position. The crew will not have their pay withheld and will be paid from next week, but it remains uncertain whether this signals the show’s possible return.

So far, no concrete decision has been announced by either Kimmel or ABC.

Speaking about Kimmel keeping his staff paid, the host and comedian has consistently stood by his team. This is not the first time he has done so.

During the WGA strike in 2023, when Hollywood productions were shut down, Kimmel ensured his crew received financial support, as per CNN.

Jimmy Kimmel's controversial comment leads to shutdown of his show

The late-night series was pulled indefinitely on September 17, after Kimmel commented about the suspected killer of conservative figure Charlie Kirk, which triggered backlash.

According to NBC News, hours later, Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr, who was appointed during President Donald Trump's administration, publicly urged Disney to pull the late-night show from the airwaves.

Carr on Benny Johnson’s podcast said, “We can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to change conduct and take actions on Kimmel, or there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.” 

According to Deadline, the pressure intensified when the two largest station groups, Nexstar and Sinclair, declared they would no longer air 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'. This was a significant setback that heavily influenced ABC’s decision to pull the show from its stations.

What did Jimmy Kimmel say after Charlie Kirk's shooting?

In the immediate aftermath of Kirk’s fatal shooting on September 10, Kimmel posted on social media, “Instead of the angry finger-pointing, can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human? On behalf of my family, we send love to the Kirks and to all the children, parents and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence.”

The sympathetic tone changed just after five days. 

In his September 15 monologue on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!', the show host said: “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”