When news broke that Jimmy Kimmel Live! was being pulled off the air “indefinitely,” it caught fans and critics alike by surprise. Celebrities across the entertainment world weighed in, from David Letterman to Jean Smart. But one of the most unexpected voices to share their opinions? Stelen Covel, the son of late country legend Toby Keith.
In a series of candid posts, the 28-year-old offered his take on the controversy — and stood up for free speech, even if he’s not exactly a Kimmel fan.
What Happened with ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’?
ABC’s decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live! came shortly after the host made controversial remarks during his September 15 monologue — comments that referenced the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
According to Variety, Kimmel took aim at conservative reactions to the tragedy, saying, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who killed Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.”
He also quipped about President Donald Trump’s unrelated response to a reporter’s question about Kirk’s death, saying, “Yes, he’s at the fourth stage of grief: Construction.”
Stelen Covel Defends Jimmy Kimmel
While the internet lit up with debate, Covel shared his perspective on Instagram Stories — and it wasn’t what some might expect.
“For what it’s worth — Not a fan of Kimmel’s but I think what Kimmel said probably didn’t warrant a firing, He’s said much worse.”
He also suggested the move may have been less about public outrage and more about dollars and cents. “Companies like Disney make safe decisions like this all the time. Likely just a business decision to save money from Bob Igor. (Bob Iger is the CEO of Disney, ABC’s parent company.)”
Was Jimmy Kimmel Fired?
Not officially — at least not yet.
According to PBS, ABC has suspended the show, but no one knows for how long. Neither Kimmel nor the network has made a formal statement about a return date or future plans for the program.
Some, including Covel, speculate that Kimmel could easily move to streaming or podcasting if ABC cuts ties for good. “He will do a show on Netflix or Hulu or a podcast or some other slop and make the same money,” Covel added.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 19, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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