Commentary: Jimmy Kimmel is latest victim of Trump-era cancel culture as corporate media folds

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I used to think government censorship was something that only happened in stories like *1984*, or in countries with really oppressive regimes – you know, places where people were just snatched off the street and vanished. As an American, I genuinely believed our First Amendment rights protected us from that ever becoming a reality here. It felt like a fundamental guarantee – the government simply couldn’t take away our right to speak freely.

Instead of government action against people who share offensive opinions, private companies are now taking it upon themselves to punish those views. Recently, an office supply store, a news network, and an airline all fired employees who made comments about Charlie Kirk – a conservative influencer – that were seen as celebrating his supposed death, being insensitive, or suggesting he was to blame for any attack on him.

ABC has paused production of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” after criticism arose from host Jimmy Kimmel’s comments regarding the White House’s response to the passing of Kirk Douglas.

According to my colleague Stephen Battaglio, Jimmy Kimmel stated that supporters of Donald Trump “are frantically attempting to distance the person who attacked Charlie Kirk from their group and are exploiting the situation for political gain.”

During his Monday night show, Kimmel also took issue with Trump’s decision to lower flags to half-staff following Kirk’s death. He suggested the president’s reaction wasn’t genuine, comparing it to the way a young child might grieve the loss of a pet goldfish.

Because people fear getting targeted by a leader who takes criticism personally, major news organizations like the Post, “60 Minutes,” and MSNBC seem to be pulling back on their critical reporting of the administration. This same self-censorship is now happening in workplaces across the country, from break rooms to offices. It’s not quite the oppressive surveillance state described in George Orwell’s “1984,” but it’s a worrying sign of things to come.

The firing of Kimmel happened at the same time Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah revealed she was let go after sharing her opinions following the recent shooting in Utah. Attiah claims the Post accused her of serious misconduct and endangering colleagues based on posts she made on the platform Bluesky, but she strongly denies these claims and says there was no evidence to support them.

Attiah explained that she was fired abruptly, without any chance to discuss the situation. She believes this was a rash decision that contradicted The Post’s stated commitment to fair and thorough journalism. She also stated that, even when speaking out against hate and violence, she always made sure to express herself carefully and responsibly.

World & Nation

After conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed, the dismissal of MSNBC analyst Matthew Dowd sparked a wave of similar situations where people faced repercussions for their public statements in the media.

Attiah’s posts primarily focused on gun violence and racial issues. She referenced Charlie Kirk in only one post, quoting his controversial remarks about Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and former Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, both Black women. She wrote, “‘Black women do not have the brain processing power to be taken seriously. You have to go steal a white person’s slot’ – Charlie Kirk.”

Attiah didn’t express joy over Kirk’s death, but she also didn’t publicly grieve. In today’s political climate, simply that lack of reaction could worry her employer, potentially more than other, more obvious issues.

It’s unfortunately not surprising how people reacted to Kirk’s tragic death. Social media, as usual, became a place for all kinds of reactions – both positive and negative – following a difficult event.

Three months ago, a wave of violence and negativity – a mix of politeness and harshness – struck online platforms like YouTube and TikTok, mirroring a real-world attack. Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were tragically killed in their home due to political motivations. Democratic State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also reportedly shot at their home by the same person, but thankfully survived.

Voices

Abcarian: The killing of Charlie Kirk undermines the basis of our democracy

This tragic loss affects everyone, especially now when our elections and rights to free speech are already facing significant challenges.

Back in June, there wasn’t widespread outrage or calls to hold accountable those who downplayed the tragic shootings or, even worse, exploited them online. For example, Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah blamed the killings on left-wing ideologies, posting on X (formerly Twitter) that “This is what happens when Marxists don’t get their way.” He also shared a picture of a suspect with a mocking caption referencing Minnesota’s Democratic governor, Tim Walz, who was a potential running mate for Kamala Harris in 2024. Senator Lee, who is now publicly expressing grief over the victim’s death, appeared to be following the lead of others in making these statements.

President Trump briefly condemned the killing of Hortman on his social media platform, Truth Social, saying that “such horrific violence will not be tolerated.” He didn’t offer a detailed tribute, didn’t go to the funeral, and when asked if he’d contacted Governor Walz about the situation, he responded by questioning why he would bother.

Politics

Although authorities didn’t state a clear reason for Charlie Kirk’s death, they did provide some important hints.

After hearing about Kirk’s death, Trump ordered flags at the White House, government buildings, embassies, and military bases to be flown at half-staff. He also announced that Kirk would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously. During a Friday interview on “Fox & Friends,” Trump vowed to retaliate against the left for the killing, even though the suspect and their reasons were still unclear.

Okay, so here’s the thing – and I’m probably going to get flak for saying this – but honestly, I don’t really care. It seems like a lot of folks on the far-right aren’t necessarily motivated by hate, but by a genuine fear of rising crime. They’re worried about open borders, shopping centers getting wrecked, and people getting hurt. What *really* bothers me, though, are the radicals on the left. They’re just…intense, frankly, and they’re really good at playing the political game.

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2025-09-18 17:31