Talk show hosts, even ratings rivals, are weighing in on the state of following the Jimmy Kimmel
Earlier this week while hosting his late-night talk show, Jimmy Kimmel made comments about the death of Charlie Kirk. In response to those comments, Kimmel was pulled from the air and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” has been suspended by ABC.
Kimmel’s suspension came after FCC chairman Brendan Carr pressured the network to take action following the host’s comments about Kirk’s killing.
After Kimmel was pulled from the air, a number of fellow late-night hosts have come to his defense, speaking on the issue during their own shows Thursday night.
Jimmy Fallon comes to Kimmel’s defense
During Thursday’s episode of “The Tonight Show,” Fallon addressed ABC suspending Kimmel’s show.
“The big story is that Jimmy Kimmel was suspended by ABC after pressure from the FCC, leaving everyone thinking, ‘WTF?’” Fallon said jokingly as he started his monologue.
He then switched to a more serious tone, coming to Kimmel’s defense. “To be honest with you all, I don’t know what’s going on, and no one does. But I do know Jimmy Kimmel, and he’s a decent, funny and loving guy, and I hope he comes back.”
Fallon then joked about concerns that late-night comedy shows will be “censored,” and vowed to continue covering President Donald Trump “just like I normally would.” But, as he continued talking about the president, a studio voiceover began jokingly dubbing his words with praise for Trump.
Seth Meyers’ reaction to Kimmel being pulled off the air
Also on Thursday, the Kimmel suspension was addressed by Seth Meyers on NBC’s “Late Night.”
He started by speaking about Kimmel, saying, “It’s a privilege and an honor to call Jimmy Kimmel my friend in the same way it’s a privilege and honor to do this show every night.”
“We’re going to keep doing our show the way we’ve always done it, with enthusiasm and integrity,” he continued.
Meyers also spoke on the principles of free speech and free expression.
“This is a big moment in our democracy and we must all stand up for the principles of free expression,” he said. “There’s a reason free speech is in the very first amendment. It stands above all others.”
Jon Stewart returns to hosting ‘Daily Show’ in response to Kimmel being suspended
Another host who rallied around Kimmel was Jon Stewart, who made a surprise return to “The Daily Show” to discuss Kimmel’s suspension on Thursday. Stewart typically only hosts “The Daily Show” on Monday.
Stewart’s highly sarcastic segment began with him saying, “We have another fun, hilarious, administration-compliant show,” according to The Hill.
The comedian’s comments were a sarcastic reference to Kimmel’s suspension. Throughout Thursday’s appearance, Stewart also sarcastically praised Trump, referencing the president’s “legendary warmth and radiance,” as clips of his recent trip to the U.K. played.
Stewart also said that the “great administration” has laid out clear rules about free speech.
“Now some naysayers may argue that this administration’s speech concerns are merely a cynical ploy, a thin gruel of a ruse, a smoke screen to obscure an unprecedented consolidation of power and unitary intimidation, principleless and coldly antithetical … to any experiment in a constitutional republic governance. Some people would say that,” Stewart said, per The Hill.
“Not me, though. I think it’s great,” he added.
Letterman and Colbert’s comments on Kimmel’s suspension
According to USA Today, former late-night host David Letterman spoke out against ABC’s decision to suspend Kimmel’s show while appearing at The Atlantic Festival.
“You can’t go around firing somebody because you’re fearful or trying to suck up to an authoritarian, criminal administration in the Oval Office,” Letterman said. “That’s just not how this works.”
Stephen Colbert, whose show was canceled by CBS over the summer, effective next year, also defended Kimmel and called the suspension a “blatant assault” on freedom of speech.
“Jimmy, I stand with you and your staff 100%” Colbert said on “The Late Show with Steven Colbert,” per CNBC.
What Trump said about Kimmel’s suspension from the air
Trump spoke about Kimmel on Air Force One on Thursday while returning from a state visit to the U.K.
The president called Kimmel untalented and denounced him for saying a “horrible thing about a great gentleman known as Charlie Kirk,” per Reuters.
Trump also complained about receiving bad publicity from broadcasters and networks.
“I have read some place that the networks were 97% against me, again, 97% negative, and yet I won and easily,” Trump said, per BBC.
“That’s something that should be talked about for licensing,” he continued, according to Reuters. “All they do is hit Trump. I would think maybe their license should be taken away. It will be up to Brendan Carr.”
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