Several Ohio natives — including an Avengers: Endgame actor — are among more than 400 artists and journalists who signed an ACLU open letter defending free speech amid ABC’s parent company’s decision to remove Jimmy Kimmel from the air.
The ACLU published the letter on Sept. 22, including a list of artists, creatives and journalists condemning what the organization called government overreach. The letter claims the government pressured Nexstar, owner of several local ABC affiliates, to cut Jimmy Kimmel Live! airtime after remarks Kimmel made on Sept. 15, following the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The Walt Disney Company owns ABC.
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The letter — which includes several prominent Disney actors — says the network’s move sets a dangerous precedent that threatens free expression, which affects artists, journalists, students, teachers, law firms, researchers and universities.
The letter concludes with the ACLU saying it would invite members of the public to add their names in a show of support for defending this position.
Ohio actors join chorus of entertainers demanding Kimmel’s reinstatement
Here are the four Ohio-born artists who signed on to the ACLU’s letter of support for Kimmel:
Carrie Coon, from Copley, Ohio, west of Akron. She is best known for her roles in “The Nest,” “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” “The Sinner,” “The Gilded Age” and “Gone Girl.” She also voiced Proxima Midnight in Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity Wars (Disney owns the Marvel movie franchise).
Josh Radnor, from Bexley, is an actor, writer and filmmaker best known for playing Ted Mosby on the CBS sitcom, “How I Met Your Mother.”
Gloria Steinem, from Toledo, is a journalist, feminist icon and political advocate best known for her leadership in the 1960s to 1970s feminist movement. She co-founded the National Women’s Political Caucus and Ms. Magazine.
Actress Carrie Coon is among three other Ohio-born stars who have signed their name to ACLU’s ‘Defend Free Speech’ open letter in support of Jimmy Kimmel.
Why was Jimmy Kimmel Live! suspended?
ABC suspended Kimmel’s 22-year-old late-night show indefinitely after his remarks about Kirk. Because affiliate groups like Nexstar and Sinclair control local ABC stations, they can preempt or replace programming.
Nexstar president Andrew Alford told USA TODAY that Kimmel’s comments were “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse.”
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Free speech advocates, including the ACLU, argue the suspension endangers First Amendment protections “regardless of political affiliation.”
Trending features reporter Amani Bayo contributed to reporting and can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Avengers, The Gilded Age actor among Ohioans demanding Kimmel’s return
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