A coalition of prominent figures, including hundreds of celebrities, have voiced their support for late-night host Jimmy Kimmel following ABC’s suspension of his show. The suspension stemmed from remarks Kimmel made regarding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Among those who have signed a letter decrying the suspension as a “dark moment for freedom of speech” are Jennifer Aniston, Meryl Streep, and Robert DeNiro.
ABC’s decision to indefinitely halt the show’s production came after the chair of the U.S. broadcast regulator threatened action in response to the comedian’s comments.
The controversy has ignited a debate surrounding free speech, with critics labeling the suspension as censorship and accusing ABC and its parent company, Disney, of yielding to pressure from the Trump administration.
In a recent monologue, Kimmel expressed condolences to the Kirk family while simultaneously criticizing President Donald Trump and Republicans for their reactions to the assassination.
“We witnessed new depths this weekend with the MAGA contingent desperately attempting to mischaracterize the individual who murdered Charlie Kirk as someone other than one of their own, all while exploiting the situation for political gain,” Kimmel stated.
Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), asserted that Kimmel’s statements misled the American public.
The motivations and political affiliations of Tyler Robinson, 22, the man charged with Kirk’s murder, remain unclear. However, according to an indictment, Robinson’s mother informed police that he had become more left-leaning in the past year. Utah Governor Spencer Cox also characterized Robinson as possessing a “leftist ideology.”
Following Kimmel’s suspension, President Donald Trump, who appointed Carr at the outset of his second term, commended the decision.
Trump later suggested that broadcast TV networks treat him unfairly and could face the potential revocation of their licenses.
“Efforts by leaders to pressure artists, journalists, and companies with retaliation for their speech strike at the heart of what it means to live in a free country,” the celebrities’ letter says. “This is the moment to defend free speech across our nation.”
Actors Alan Cumming and Florence Pugh also joined the letter, which was spearheaded by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
The letter states many others are facing “direct attacks on their freedom of expression,” including teachers, government employees, researchers, and students, and are adding their voices to defend free speech.
Kimmel’s fellow late-night US hosts lashed out at his suspension last week amid Trump’s escalating threats to broadcast networks.
CBS announced in July that it is cancelling The Late Show hosted by Stephen Colbert, something it called “purely a financial decision”, though some linked the move to a looming merger involving CBS’s parent company that requires US regulatory approval.
Kimmel, who is among the top talk show personalities in the US, emceed the Oscars four times and has hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live! since 2003.
ABC pulled the plug after Nexstar Media, one of the biggest owners of TV stations in the US, said its stations would not air the show “for the foreseeable future”.
The late-night comic’s show will return to air after Disney said it had “thoughtful coversations” with him.
Some studies have suggested an association between the two, but experts say there is no causal relationship.
The White House says FBI agents under the last administration had tried to “entrap” Homan.
Foreign affairs spokesman Calum Miller says the government should refer itself to its new ethics commission.
O’Neill did not attend a state banquet with President Trump but Little-Pengelly was among the guests.