Amid Jimmy Kimmel suspension, ABC’s ‘The View’ finally declares, ‘No one silences us’

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After two weeks of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” being put on hold by ABC, the hosts of “The View” are publicly backing Kimmel and his right to free speech, right on the same network.

After Jimmy Kimmel was suspended for his remarks about MAGA and the death of conservative personality Charlie Kirk, most late-night hosts criticized ABC’s decision. Daytime talk show hosts, who usually share their opinions freely, had been surprisingly quiet about the situation – until Monday’s shows, when they finally spoke out.

Whoopi Goldberg kicked off the show’s “Hot Topics” segment by directly addressing the controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel. She stated, “You knew we weren’t going to avoid this.” Referencing the show’s long history-29 seasons-she emphasized, “We don’t let anyone stop us from speaking our minds.”

Television

ABC’s daytime talk show, which often criticizes Trump, hasn’t said much since Jimmy Kimmel’s show was suspended and after receiving threats from the head of the Federal Communications Commission.

Goldberg clarified why ‘The View’ didn’t immediately react to Kimmel’s suspension, explaining that she and her co-hosts paused to give him a chance to speak about it himself. Kimmel hasn’t publicly commented yet, but has received significant support – including protests outside the El Capitan Entertainment Center, an open letter from the ACLU signed by many celebrities, and now discussion on ‘The View’.

Goldberg explained that while a show can be canceled due to low ratings or someone making an inappropriate statement, the government doesn’t have the power to force a program to be taken off the air simply to silence someone.

Last week, ABC took Jimmy Kimmel off the air following a decision by its affiliate station owners, Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group, to suspend him over his remarks about Kirk’s death. Before this, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, had publicly criticized Kimmel and warned ABC they might face consequences.

Nexstar is waiting for the FCC to approve its plan to merge with Tegna. Meanwhile, Sinclair is asking Jimmy Kimmel to apologize to the family of Chris Kirk and donate to Turning Point USA, a conservative group.

World & Nation

Many famous actors and performers from Hollywood and Broadway are speaking out to support free speech after Jimmy Kimmel was temporarily taken off the air.

Continuing the discussion from Monday, Goldberg criticized President Trump, stating she doesn’t understand how he can be president and still not grasp the basics of the First Amendment.

Every panelist except Joy Behar, who wasn’t on Monday’s show, spoke about the suspension. Sunny Hostin referenced the First Amendment, while Ana Navarro complimented viewers for wanting honesty and bravery from the show, and pointed out the irony of the situation – that the aftermath of Kirk’s death is now being used to suppress discussion and ‘cancel’ people.

Navarro stated that the government is leveraging its authority to intimidate and silence individuals.

Alyssa Farah Griffin said the 1st Amendment is necessary to hold the government accountable.

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Following reports that FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr was considering an investigation, the hosts of “The View” publicly addressed the situation. Carr suggested on a conservative podcast that the show could be reviewed to determine if it functions as a legitimate news program, a designation that would protect it from regulations requiring equal airtime for opposing viewpoints.

“The View” didn’t comment on the reports, but Whoopi Goldberg ended the discussion by emphasizing the importance of free speech for everyone, stating, “We fight for everyone’s right to speak freely, because that includes my right and your right.”

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2025-09-22 22:31