ABC\u2019s decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel Live!<\/a> from the air on Wednesday (September 17) over comments Jimmy Kimmel<\/a> made about the Charlie Kirk<\/a> shooting is causing quite the stir online, with several Hollywood stars taking to social media to share their reactions.<\/p>\n Disney\u2019s ABC made the announcement late Wednesday, revealing the late-night show would be on \u201cindefinite hiatus\u201d<\/a> amid backlash over comments Kimmel made on Monday\u2019s (September 15) show<\/a>. The move came after powerful station group Nexstar announced it would preempt the show on its 32 ABC affiliate stations.<\/p>\n After the news broke, many celebrities shared their shock, including Hacks<\/a> star Jean Smart<\/a>, who wrote on Instagram, \u201cI am horrified at the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel Live. What Jimmy said was FREE speech, not hate speech. People seem to only want to protect free speech when it suits THEIR agenda.\u201d<\/p>\n She added, \u201cThough 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 Actor and Severance<\/a> director Ben Stiller<\/a> also commented, writing on X, \u201cThis isn\u2019t right.\u201d<\/p>\n President Obama<\/a> said Trump\u2019s White House has taken \u201ccancel culture\u201d to \u201ca new and dangerous level.\u201d<\/p>\n Former VP and one-time presidential candidate Kamala Harris took to Instagram on Thursday to voice her concerns over what she described as an assault on First Amendment rights: \u201cWhat we are witnessing is an outright abuse of power. This administration is attacking critics and using fear as a weapon to silence anyone who would speak out. Media corporations \u2014 from television networks to newspapers \u2014 are capitulating to these threats. We cannot dare to be silent or complacent in the face of this frontal assault on free speech. We, the People, deserve better.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis is misery,\u201d said late-night legend David Letterman<\/a> when asked about Kimmel\u2019s suspension. \u201cWe see where this is all going, correct? It\u2019s managed media. And it\u2019s no good. It\u2019s silly. It\u2019s ridiculous. And you can\u2019t go around firing somebody because you\u2019re fearful or trying to suck up to an authoritarian criminal administration in the Oval Office. That\u2019s just not how this works.\u201d<\/p>\n Letterman, who was at a speaking engagement at The Atlantic Festival 2025 on Thursday in New York, also commented on Trump\u2019s involvement regarding Kimmel. \u201cThe institution of the president of the United States ought to be bigger than a guy doing a talk show.\u201d<\/p>\n Comedian Wanda Sykes<\/a>, who was supposed to be a guest on Wednesday\u2019s show, said in an Instagram video, \u201cLet\u2019s see, [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 MSNBC host Chris Hayes<\/a> called the move \u201cthe most straightforward attack on free speech from state actors I\u2019ve ever seen in my life and it\u2019s not even close.\u201d<\/p>\n Rosie O\u2019Donnell<\/a> took to Instagram, sharing a photo of Kimmel and writing, \u201cThis is unacceptable \u2013 f*** this fascist administration and corrupt corporate executives \u2013 bowing to the orange monster \u2013 america is no more<\/p>\n \ufffd\ufffd<\/p>\n .\u201d<\/p>\n One Tree Hill<\/a> alum Sophia Bush<\/a> added, \u201cThe First Amendment doesn\u2019t exist in America anymore. Period. Fascism is here and it\u2019s chilling.\u201d<\/p>\n Comedian and Tim & Eric<\/a> star Tim Heidecker<\/a> spoke to The Hollywood Reporter<\/a> about the situation at the premiere of his new movie Him<\/a>, saying, \u201cI am sure Jimmy will be okay but it\u2019s very scary and is absolutely state-sponsored censorship. I mean the guy from the FCC said, \u2018We can do this the easy way or the hard way\u2019 \u2014 that\u2019s like mob stuff. I\u2019m very upset by it. Late night TV is not my thing but that\u2019s OK, I think he should be able to say what he wants, within reason. What he said didn\u2019t seem that crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n Heidecker was referring to comments made by Trump-appointed FCC chair Brendan Carr, who told right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson<\/a> on Wednesday, \u201cWe can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to change conduct and take actions on Kimmel, or there\u2019s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n Carr made similar comments on Fox News later that night, per celebrity.land<\/a>, saying, \u201cWe at the FCC are going to force the public interest obligation. There are broadcasters out there that don\u2019t like it, they can turn in their license in to the FCC. But that\u2019s our job. Again, we\u2019re making some progress now.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n