Erika Kirk reveals Sinclair reached out to broker personal a...

Erika Kirk reveals Sinclair reached out to broker personal apology from Jimmy Kimmel

Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, has revealed that representatives from Sinclair Broadcasting Group offered her a personal apology from Jimmy Kimmel after the late-night host’s show was suspended over his comments about Charlie’s assassination. Kirk, 36, said Sinclair TV executives asked how they could make it right after Kimmel’s remarks on his ABC show drew widespread criticism. “Jimmy Kimmel lied about your husband’s murder and didn’t really apologize, what would you say to Jimmy Kimmel?” Fox News host Jesse Watters asked Kirk in an excerpt of an interview released Tuesday. “Same thing I told Sinclair,” Kirk replied. “They asked, I haven’t really told anybody this, so they asked, ‘do you want Jimmy to give you an apology? Do you want to be on a show? How can we make it right?’” “Through our team, I responded, I said, tell them thank you, we received their note. This is not our issue, not our mess. If you want to say I’m sorry to someone who’s grieving, go right ahead. But if that’s not in your heart, don’t do it. I don’t want it. I don’t need it.” Watters’ full interview with Kirk, who is now head of conservative organization Turning Point USA following her husband’s death, is set to air Wednesday on Jesse Watters Primetime. Charlie, a podcaster known for his right-wing beliefs, was shot and killed while speaking during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on September 10. He was 31. Kimmel was suspended by ABC in September after he criticized President Donald Trump and his supporters for their response to Charlie’s killing. His suspension sparked outrage throughout the country and fears over censorship. ABC affiliate owners Nexstar and Sinclair, which operates 38 local ABC affiliates and has a reputation for broadcasting conservative viewpoints, made public statements slamming Kimmel’s comments and vowed to get the show off the air. At the time, Sinclair also called for Kimmel to apologize to Charlie’s family and make a “meaningful personal donation” to Turning Point USA. Sinclair didn’t immediately return The Independent’s request for comment. A week after the show was cancelled, Kimmel returned to air and addressed the suspension as well as his original comments. "I posted a message on Instagram on the day he was killed, sending love to his family and asking for compassion,” Kimmel said on his first episode back, which was watched by 6.3 million viewers. “And I meant it. I still do. Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what, it was obviously a deeply disturbed individual. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make. “But I understand that to some that felt either ill-timed or unclear or maybe both. And for those who think I did, point a finger, I get why you’re upset. If the situation was reversed, there’s a good chance I’d have felt the same way.”

Kirk, 36, said Sinclair TV executives asked how they could make it right after Kimmel’s remarks on his ABC show drew widespread criticism.

“Jimmy Kimmel lied about your husband’s murder and didn’t really apologize, what would you say to Jimmy Kimmel?” Fox News host Jesse Watters asked Kirk in an excerpt of an interview released Tuesday.

“Same thing I told Sinclair,” Kirk replied. “They asked, I haven’t really told anybody this, so they asked, ‘do you want Jimmy to give you an apology? Do you want to be on a show? How can we make it right?’”

“Through our team, I responded, I said, tell them thank you, we received their note. This is not our issue, not our mess. If you want to say I’m sorry to someone who’s grieving, go right ahead. But if that’s not in your heart, don’t do it. I don’t want it. I don’t need it.”

Watters’ full interview with Kirk, who is now head of conservative organization Turning Point USA following her husband’s death, is set to air Wednesday on Jesse Watters Primetime.

Charlie, a podcaster known for his right-wing beliefs, was shot and killed while speaking during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on September 10. He was 31.

Kimmel was suspended by ABC in September after he criticized President Donald Trump and his supporters for their response to Charlie’s killing. His suspension sparked outrage throughout the country and fears over censorship.

ABC affiliate owners Nexstar and Sinclair, which operates 38 local ABC affiliates and has a reputation for broadcasting conservative viewpoints, made public statements slamming Kimmel’s comments and vowed to get the show off the air.

At the time, Sinclair also called for Kimmel to apologize to Charlie’s family and make a “meaningful personal donation” to Turning Point USA. Sinclair didn’t immediately return The Independent’s request for comment.

A week after the show was cancelled, Kimmel returned to air and addressed the suspension as well as his original comments.

"I posted a message on Instagram on the day he was killed, sending love to his family and asking for compassion,” Kimmel said on his first episode back, which was watched by 6.3 million viewers.

“And I meant it. I still do. Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what, it was obviously a deeply disturbed individual. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make.

“But I understand that to some that felt either ill-timed or unclear or maybe both. And for those who think I did, point a finger, I get why you’re upset. If the situation was reversed, there’s a good chance I’d have felt the same way.”