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News that \u201cJimmy Kimmel Live!\u201d had been suspended indefinitely<\/a> over a Charlie Kirk<\/a> monologue sent shockwaves across social media Wednesday night.<\/p>\n ABC suspended Kimmel because of comments he made on the show in the wake of Kirk\u2019s murder. The late-night host criticized Republican reactions to the political identity of Tyler Robinson<\/a>, who is charged with killing him.<\/p>\n Various celebrities, many of whom are close to Kimmel, condemned the silencing of the host with some issuing calls to organize against the network\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n \u201cNight of the Museum\u201d star Ben Stiller reshared an X post<\/a> sharing the news with the caption, \u201cThis isn\u2019t right,\u201d while \u201cCommunity\u201d actress Alison Brie wrote, \u201cThis is unreal. And very scary,\u201d on her Instagram story<\/a>. <\/p>\n Actor-comedian Wanda Sykes<\/a>, who was booked as a guest on Kimmel\u2019s show before the ABC decision was announced, shared her thoughts on Instagram as well. <\/p>\n \u201cSo I\u2019m in a full face of makeup because I was supposed to go over and have a chat with my friend Jimmy Kimmel on his show, but as you have heard by now, the Jimmy Kimmel show has been pulled indefinitely, abruptly, because of the complaints from the Trump administration,\u201d Sykes said in a video<\/a>. \u201cSo let\u2019s see. (President Donald Trump) didn\u2019t end the Ukraine War or solve Gaza within his first week. But he did end freedom of speech within his first year. Hey, for those of you who pray, now\u2019s the time to do it. Love you, Jimmy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHacks\u201d star Jean Smart posted a photo she took with Kimmel in sharing her response to his suspension on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI am horrified at the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel Live,\u201d she wrote in her post. \u201cWhat Jimmy said was FREE speech, not hate speech. People seem to only want to protect free speech when it suits THEIR agenda. Though I didn\u2019t agree at ALL with Charlie Kirk; his shooting death sickened me; and should have sickened any decent human being. What is happening to our country?\u201d<\/p>\n Comedian Mike Birbiglia<\/a> posted a handwritten note on Instagram<\/a> about free speech.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve spent a lot of time in public and private defending comedians I don\u2019t agree with,\u201d he wrote. \u201cIf you\u2019re a comedian and you don\u2019t call out the insanity of pulling Kimmel off the air \u2014 don\u2019t bother spouting off about free speech anymore.”<\/p>\n Actor-comedian Kathy Griffin<\/a> also pointed to the power of people\u2019s wallets to make them heard about the loss of free speech.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease, take it from me, it is very important to have Jimmy Kimmel\u2019s back right now,<\/a>\u201d Griffin<\/a> said on Threads. \u201cBe vocal. Be an ideological consumer. Money<\/a> is all their crowd cares about.\u201d<\/p>\n Kimmel\u2019s suspension was announced just two days after he made the comments about the response to Kirk\u2019s death on \u201cJimmy Kimmel Live!\u201d Monday.<\/p>\n In his opening monologue<\/a>, Kimmel said that \u201cwe hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang 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.\u201d<\/p>\n He then cued up footage of a reporter asking Trump how he was holding up while mourning Kirk\u2019s death. <\/p>\n \u201cI think very good,\u201d Trump said, quickly pivoting to talk about the construction of a ballroom at the White House.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s gonna be a beauty,\u201d the president said in the clip.<\/p>\n Trump later commented on Kimmel\u2019s suspension on his social media platform Truth<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cGreat News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED,\u201d Trump wrote. \u201cCongratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done. Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that\u2019s possible. That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!! President DJT\u201d<\/p>\n Kimmel, like CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert<\/a>, has consistently been critical of President Donald Trump and many of his policies on his ABC show. CBS said this past summer that it would be canceling<\/a> Colbert\u2019s show at the end of this season for financial reasons, although some critics have wondered if his stance on Trump played a role.<\/p>\n Kimmel\u2019s suspension came hours after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr<\/a> railed against ABC for Kimmel\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can do this the easy way or the hard way<\/a>,\u201d Carr said on a podcast<\/a> with Benny Johnson, per Variety. \u201cThese companies can find ways to change conduct and take action, frankly, on Kimmel or there\u2019s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n The Writers Guild of America also put out a statement<\/a> in response to Kimmel\u2019s suspension and the removal of his show from the ABC lineup.<\/p>\n \u201cThe right to speak our minds and to disagree with each other \u2014 to disturb, even \u2014 is at the very heart of what it means to be a free people,” the union said. \u201cIt is not to be denied. Not by violence, not by the abuse of government power, not by acts of corporate cowardice.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a Guild, we stand united in opposition to anyone who uses their power and influence to silence the voices of writers, or anyone who speaks in dissent. If free speech applied only to ideas we like, we needn\u2019t have bothered to write it into the Constitution. What we have signed on to \u2014 painful as it may be at times \u2014 is the freeing agreement to disagree.”<\/p>\n The Screen Actors Guild<\/a> also condemned Kimmel\u2019s suspension.<\/p>\n \u201cOur society depends on freedom of expression,\u201d the labor union said in a statement posted to Instagram<\/a>. \u201cSuppression of free speech and retaliation for speaking out on significant issues of public concern run counter to the fundamental rights we all rely on.\u201d<\/p>\n SAG also called the suspension of Kimmel and the show \u201cthe type of suppression and retaliation that endangers everyone\u2019s freedoms.\u201d<\/p>\n If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. 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