Jimmy Fallon cancels NYC festival appearance following Jimmy Kimmel’s removal from the show’s airing schedule.

Jimmy Fallon has canceled his scheduled appearance at Fast Company’s Innovation Festival in New York City, coinciding with the suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” This decision follows Kimmel’s controversial comments regarding the recent shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

Fallon was set to participate in a panel discussion alongside marketing executive Bozoma St. John, focusing on NBC’s “On Brand,” a competition series that challenges marketing professionals with creative tasks. However, just thirty minutes before he was due to take the stage, festival organizers announced his abrupt withdrawal, according to reports from Media News Source. Despite Fallon’s absence, the panel proceeded as planned with St. John and Jeff Beer, Fast Company’s editor.

The timing of Fallon’s cancellation coincided with ABC’s decision to remove Kimmel’s show from its lineup. This suspension came after Kimmel delivered a monologue critiquing the responses to Kirk’s tragic death. Kirk was fatally shot during a Q&A event at Utah Valley State University, a tragedy that has since sparked heated political discourse. The suspected shooter, identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, faces charges including aggravated murder.

In the aftermath of the shooting, President Trump and other conservative figures quickly sought to shift the blame towards the political left. Kimmel defended his remarks, suggesting that the shooter’s ideological leanings were more aligned with right-wing views. He remarked on the troubling attempts by some groups to downplay the affiliations of Kirk’s murderer while leveraging the situation for political advantage.

In his message of condolence, Kimmel expressed sympathy for Kirk’s family in light of the tragic event. Following Kimmel’s suspension, Trump took to social media, praising ABC’s decision. He criticized Kimmel’s talent and ratings, suggesting that his absence would leave late-night television with fewer viable options.

As a result of Kimmel’s hiatus, a rerun of “Celebrity Family Feud” aired on Wednesday night, while Sinclair Broadcasting’s affiliates scheduled a special tribute to Charlie Kirk. The unfolding events highlight the complexities of modern political discourse, particularly in the aftermath of violent events, and underscore the challenges facing media figures navigating these polarizing issues.