Reactions from across the country continue to pour in following ABC’s decision to suspend “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” indefinitely over comments the late-night host made in the wake of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
On Wednesday, ABC announced it was pulling the late-night show off the air “indefinitely,” following criticism from Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr, who called Kimmel’s remarks “truly sick” and warned of potential regulatory consequences.
The decision also followed Nexstar Media Group’s announcement that it would preempt the show “for the foreseeable future” across its ABC-affiliated stations. Nexstar is the parent company of KTLA. This past August, Nexstar announced it had entered an agreement to acquire rival broadcast company Tegna for $6.2 billion. This merger would require FCC approval.
Celebrity and Political Reactions
The suspension has sparked a wave of responses from celebrities, politicians, and media figures, many of whom took to social media to express outrage and concern over what they view as a threat to free speech.
“I love Jimmy & Molly & everyone over at ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ – this is absurd and frightening.”
Jean Smart, Emmy-winning actress from “Hacks,” posted on Instagram:
“I am horrified at the cancellation of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ What Jimmy said was FREE speech, not hate speech… What is happening to our country?”
“This isn’t right.”
“I stand with ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ I stand for free speech. I stand for democracy. SHAME SHAME SHAME ABC.”
Wanda Sykes, who was scheduled to appear on the show, shared a video on Instagram:
“I was supposed to have a chat with my friend Jimmy Kimmel… But the show has been pulled indefinitely, abruptly, because of complaints from the Trump administration… He didn’t end the Ukraine war or solve Gaza, but he did end freedom of speech within his first year.”
“Buying and controlling media platforms. Firing commentators. Canceling shows. These aren’t coincidences. It’s coordinated. And it’s dangerous. The GOP does not believe in free speech. They are censoring you in real time.”
“After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like. This is precisely the kind of government coercion that the First Amendment was designed to prevent — and media companies need to start standing up rather than capitulating to it.”
“The ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ show has been preempted indefinitely over a joke. This should send a chill down everyone’s spine in America.”
“Jimmy Kimmel – his humor, his insights are important to keep showing us who we are. AND he is a most wonderful fellow.”
“Just think for a minute about the amount of IRATE mail/viewer feedback they must have gotten to do this.”
“He can get a job emptying bed pans.”
“I’m available to fill in ABC Network.”
Industry Response
The Writers Guild of America issued a strong statement, which read in part:
“The right to speak our minds and to disagree with each other – to disturb, even – is at the very heart of what it means to be a free people… Shame on those in government who forget this founding truth. As for our employers, our words have made you rich. Silencing us impoverishes the whole world.”
The Producers Guild of America echoed that sentiment, which said partly:
“Free speech is fundamental to our democracy. It is the lifeblood of our industry… We believe that artistic expression is essential and that critical voices must not be silenced.”
Background
Kimmel’s controversial remarks came during a monologue during Monday’s show in which he criticized conservative media figures for politicizing Kirk’s death. He said:
“The MAGA gang is 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,” Kimmel said. “In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.”
Authorities have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with Kirk’s murder. While initial reports suggested Robinson had conservative roots, prosecutors later described him as having adopted leftist views in recent years.
So far, Kimmel has not publicly commented on the suspension.
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