Jimmy Kimmel defended by Hollywood A-Listers: Meryl Streep and Selena Gomez among stars signing union letter

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Jimmy Kimmel‘s friends in Hollywood have come to his defense after ABC cancelled his talk show last week, with no immediate plans to bring it back.

The issue started last Monday evening when the show’s host talked about the alleged attempt on Charlie Kirk’s life during the opening remarks and mentioned Tyler Robinson, the suspected attacker. This caused a significant public backlash.

Conservatives welcomed the suspension, and President Donald Trump praised ABC for acting quickly to suspend Jimmy Kimmel. However, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and many of Kimmel’s fellow celebrities have publicly supported him in response.

A group of major stars, including Robert De Niro, Jane Fonda, Ben Affleck, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Tom Hanks, along with popular Disney actors like Pedro Pascal, Selena Gomez, Martin Short, and Meryl Streep, have all signed a powerful open letter.

This letter starts with a strong statement: citizens should always defend their right to speak freely. It argues that when leaders try to silence artists, reporters, or businesses by punishing them for expressing their views, it attacks the very foundation of a free society.

Last week, Jimmy Kimmel’s show was temporarily stopped from broadcasting when the government warned a private company about potential consequences. This situation is being seen as a troubling sign for free speech in the United States.

Our government is trying to suppress dissenting voices by threatening the jobs of people in the media, arts, and entertainment industries. This action goes against the principles and constitutional protections our country is founded on.

This issue extends far beyond our own concerns and industry. Many others – including teachers, government workers, legal professionals, researchers, universities, and students – are also experiencing threats to their ability to freely express themselves.

No matter our political views or how involved we are in politics, we all care about our country. We also all believe that everyone deserves to be heard, and that when one person’s voice is suppressed, it affects us all.

Now is the time to stand up for free speech throughout the country. We invite all Americans to work with us and the ACLU to protect the rights guaranteed to us by the Constitution.

Over 430 actors, directors, writers, and comedians from film, television, and the stage have signed on.

The cast also features a wide range of talented actors, including Jason Bateman, Jane Fonda, Elizabeth Banks, Olivia Rodrigo, Ben Stiller, Jean Smart, Michael Keaton, Noah Wyle, Regina King, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Natalie Portman, Maya Rudolph, Mark Ruffalo, and Kerry Washington.

During Monday’s episode of The View on ABC, Whoopi Goldberg began the show with a statement declaring ‘No one silences us,’ and she, along with the other hosts, criticized Disney’s recent decision.

Ana Navarro expressed confusion about how a government, in a country with a Constitution guaranteeing free speech and a free press, could use its power to intimidate and silence people.

Alyssa Farah Griffin, often the most conservative panelist on the show, explained that the First Amendment is vitally important because it allows people to question and challenge those in positions of authority.

Kimmel has yet to make a public comment on the suspension. 

Disney’s ABC temporarily removed Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show from the air just before its scheduled broadcast on September 17th. This decision followed controversial remarks Kimmel made earlier in the week about the shooting of Kirk in Utah.

Jimmy Kimmel stated that supporters of Donald Trump, often called the ‘MAGA gang,’ are working hard to distance themselves from the person who allegedly attacked Charlie Kirk, and are attempting to use the situation for political gain.

‘In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.’

The screen then switched to a video of Donald Trump speaking with reporters, responding to a question about how he was dealing with Kirk’s death.

When a reporter asked how he was doing, the president said he was ‘very good’ and then quickly changed the subject to the ongoing construction work on the White House ballroom.

‘He’s at the fourth stage of grief: construction,’ Kimmel joked.

This isn’t the way a grown person reacts to the loss of a friend – it’s more like the simple, fleeting sadness a child feels over a dead pet.

Following the comments, the Federal Communications Commission’s chair, Brendan Carr, warned of potential consequences, and both Sinclair and Nexstar removed programming as a result.

ABC and Disney decided to put the show on hold, which quickly led to criticism from people in Hollywood and those who advocate for free speech.

After the news came out, Jimmy Kimmel received strong support from his fellow late-night hosts. Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers all publicly backed him during their shows.

On his social media platform, Truth Social, President Trump criticized late-night talk show hosts. He called Jimmy Kimmel untalented and said his ratings were lower than Stephen Colbert’s. Trump then dismissed Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers as ‘total losers’ with ‘horrible’ ratings, urging NBC to take action.

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2025-09-22 22:05