Bill Simmons claims 'stupid s---' like Jimmy Kimmel 'censorship' will happen through Trump's presidency

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr pushed for Disney, ABC's parent company, to address the controversy. Simmons noted Rolling Stone reporting that ABC executives who did not feel Kimmel crossed a line were afraid of retaliation by the Trump administration.

Carr was appointed by Trump before his first term, then again by Biden and once more by Trump upon reelection.

With that report in his back pocket, noting the potential merger between Nexstar and Tegna and the Trump administration's involvement, Simmons outwardly called Kimmel's removal "censorship" rather than "cancel culture," which he said will happen throughout Trump's presidency.

"But I still feel like if somebody's good enough to have a platform, they can find it. So, I hope Jimmy's show sticks around, and I hope ABC sticks by him. And I think if they don't, I think it would be pretty cowardly. I don't think that's a crazy thing to say. But if they don't stick by him and this is the end, I think he's gonna be fine. He'll find another platform somewhere, and he'll figure out how to get all his content out in the right ways. And I would not bet against that dude."

Simmons wrote for Kimmel's show in its early days, and their friendship has remained "for 24 years." Before his diatribe, Simmons admitted he sides with Kimmel "with most stuff."

Nexstar Media Group, which owns hundreds of television stations, announced earlier it would preempt Kimmel's show on its ABC affiliates starting Wednesday night "for the foreseeable future" and would replace it with other programming over his comments about Robinson.

Kirk, a 31-year-old father of two, was shot and killed last week while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University. Thousands of people have mourned his death in vigils across the U.S.

The conservative influencer's funeral is set for Sept. 21 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Fox News Digital's Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.