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Reactions from across the country continue to pour in following ABC\u2019s decision to suspend\u00a0\u201cJimmy Kimmel Live!\u201d\u00a0indefinitely over comments the late-night host made in the wake of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk<\/a>.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, ABC announced it was pulling the late-night show off the air \u201cindefinitely,\u201d following criticism from Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr, who called Kimmel\u2019s remarks \u201ctruly sick\u201d and warned of potential regulatory consequences.<\/p>\n The decision also followed Nexstar Media Group\u2019s announcement that it would preempt the show \u201cfor the foreseeable future\u201d across its ABC-affiliated stations. Nexstar is the parent company of KTLA. This past August, Nexstar announced it had entered an agreement to\u00a0acquire rival broadcast company Tegna<\/a>\u00a0for $6.2 billion. This merger would require FCC approval.<\/p>\n Celebrity and Political Reactions<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI love Jimmy & Molly & everyone over at \u2018Jimmy Kimmel Live!\u2019 \u2013 this is absurd and frightening.\u201d<\/p>\n Jean Smart<\/a><\/strong>, Emmy-winning actress from\u00a0\u201cHacks,\u201d posted on Instagram:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \u201cI am horrified at the cancellation of\u00a0\u2018Jimmy Kimmel Live!\u2019 What Jimmy said was FREE speech, not hate speech\u2026 What is happening to our country?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis isn\u2019t right.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI stand with\u00a0\u2018Jimmy Kimmel Live!\u2019\u00a0I stand for free speech. I stand for democracy. SHAME SHAME SHAME ABC.\u201d<\/p>\n Wanda Sykes<\/a><\/strong>, who was scheduled to appear on the show, shared a video on Instagram:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \u201cI was supposed to have a chat with my friend Jimmy Kimmel\u2026 But the show has been pulled indefinitely, abruptly, because of complaints from the Trump administration\u2026 He didn\u2019t end the Ukraine war or solve Gaza, but he did end freedom of speech within his first year.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBuying and controlling media platforms. Firing commentators. Canceling shows. These aren\u2019t coincidences. It\u2019s coordinated. And it\u2019s dangerous. The GOP does not believe in free speech. They are censoring you in real time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAfter 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\u2019t like. This is precisely the kind of government coercion that the First Amendment was designed to prevent \u2014 and media companies need to start standing up rather than capitulating to it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe\u00a0\u2018Jimmy Kimmel Live!\u2019\u00a0show has been preempted indefinitely over a joke. This should send a chill down everyone\u2019s spine in America.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJimmy Kimmel \u2013 his humor, his insights are important to keep showing us who we are. AND he is a most wonderful fellow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust think for a minute about the amount of IRATE mail\/viewer feedback they must have gotten to do this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe can get a job emptying bed pans.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m available to fill in ABC Network.\u201d<\/p>\n Industry Response<\/strong><\/p>\n The\u00a0Writers Guild of America<\/a><\/strong> issued a strong statement, which read in part:<\/p>\n \u201cThe right to speak our minds and to disagree with each other \u2013 to disturb, even \u2013 is at the very heart of what it means to be a free people\u2026 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.\u201d<\/p>\n The\u00a0Producers Guild of America<\/a> <\/strong>echoed that sentiment, which said partly:<\/p>\n \u201cFree speech is fundamental to our democracy. It is the lifeblood of our industry\u2026 We believe that artistic expression is essential and that critical voices must not be silenced.\u201d<\/p>\n Background<\/strong><\/p>\n Kimmel\u2019s controversial remarks came during a monologue during Monday\u2019s show in which he criticized conservative media figures for politicizing Kirk\u2019s death. He said:<\/p>\n \u201cThe 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,\u201d Kimmel said. \u201cIn between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.\u201d<\/p>\n Authorities have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with Kirk\u2019s murder. While initial reports suggested Robinson had conservative roots, prosecutors later described him as having adopted leftist views in recent years.<\/p>\n So far, Kimmel has not publicly commented on the suspension.<\/p>\n Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/i><\/p>\n For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. <\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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