Before Jimmy Kimmel’s reinstatement, talk show hosts and ACLU added to outcry over suspension

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As a big fan of Jimmy Kimmel, I was really glad to hear Disney announced he’s coming back to ABC! Honestly, there had been a lot of talk and speculation about why his show was on hold, and it was starting to feel like it might be a permanent thing. So, the news was a huge relief.

Since the suspension was announced last week, protesters have gathered outside the Hollywood studio where Kimmel’s show is filmed, voicing their concerns both online and in person. Many actors, writers, musicians, and artists have publicly shared their strong opinions on the issue.

Over 400 artists, including prominent names like Tom Hanks, Jane Fonda, Meryl Streep, and Robert De Niro, have signed a letter organized by the ACLU. The letter supports free speech following the recent suspension of Jimmy Kimmel from ABC.

As a film buff, I was really disturbed to read about Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension. A letter published yesterday called it a seriously worrying sign for free speech in America. It argued that the government trying to quiet dissenting voices goes against everything this country stands for – and what the Constitution protects. It just feels like a dangerous precedent to me.

Hollywood Inc.

SAG-AFTRA and WGA protest the decision to pull the late-night show after FCC chairman’s threats.

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

Jessica Weitz, who leads artist and entertainment engagement at the ACLU, said the letter was finalized over the weekend. After it was released, more and more names were added to the list of signatories.

According to Weitz, each signature on the statement represents a person who actively reached out to their contacts, urging them to join in condemning this attack on free speech. He emphasized that speaking out against such targeted suppression of speech requires bravery, and that the creative community is responding to the situation with the seriousness it deserves.

Jimmy Kimmel’s talk show on ABC has been temporarily taken off the air since Wednesday. This happened after ABC announced it would be “preempted indefinitely,” meaning there are no plans to resume airing it right now. The decision followed announcements from two major ABC affiliate owners that they would no longer broadcast the show, citing comments Kimmel made about the person suspected in the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

News of Kimmel’s situation prompted immediate reactions from late-night hosts. Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, and Jimmy Fallon all addressed it on their shows Thursday.

Television

Jimmy Kimmel’s show was suspended by ABC, and the hosts of the four major late-night talk shows all discussed the decision during their programs.

This weekend, both Bill Maher on “Real Time” and John Oliver on “Last Week Tonight” discussed the recent controversy. Maher started by addressing the situation with Jimmy Kimmel during his Friday monologue. He referenced his own former show, “Politically Incorrect,” which ABC canceled in 2002 after advertisers reacted negatively to his comments about the 9/11 hijackers, which he had described as “not cowardly.” Kimmel’s show then took over the time slot previously held by Maher’s program.

Bill Maher joked that he faced backlash before the term ‘cancel culture’ even existed. He pointed out that this kind of public criticism isn’t new, but is actually getting more intense. He then playfully criticized ABC for always giving in to pressure, expressed his support for Jimmy Kimmel, and lightheartedly noted that Kimmel no longer has to feign enthusiasm for Disneyland.

As someone who loves watching the news and talk shows, I found the whole Bill Maher/Jimmy Kimmel situation pretty interesting. Maher, who sees himself as a classic liberal and hasn’t been shy about criticizing the Democratic party lately, said he didn’t agree with Kimmel’s take on the guy accused of attacking Kirk. But, and this is key, he doesn’t think Kimmel should be fired over it. It’s a surprisingly nuanced position, and I respect him for taking it.

Television

The announcement that ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ was going on indefinite hiatus felt similar to what happened with Roseanne Barr’s show, which was brought back in 2018 but faced very different circumstances.

He explained that everyone has the freedom to hold their own beliefs and express them, even if those beliefs are unpopular or incorrect. He said this right is protected by the First Amendment.

On Sunday’s episode of “Last Week Tonight,” John Oliver discussed Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension and the Federal Communications Commission. In a segment lasting almost half an hour, he criticized FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, spoke directly to Disney CEO Bob Iger, and explained what the suspension could mean.

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As a total film and TV buff, I was really struck by what John Oliver said about Jimmy Kimmel. He pointed out that Kimmel isn’t the first person to be targeted by Trump’s attacks on free expression, but he feels like a particularly worrying sign. Oliver described it as if something’s seriously broken, like the canary in the coal mine is already dead. What really got to me was Oliver’s point that this isn’t about protecting comedians – it’s about what happens when the government can just strong-arm a network into pulling a show. If they can do that openly, it suggests they’re capable of much, much worse. It’s a scary thought, honestly.

Oliver advised Disney CEO Bob Iger that appeasing those who take advantage of you doesn’t solve the problem – it only encourages them to demand more in the future.

Oliver explained his show benefits from not being owned by a traditional broadcast network like CBS. Because HBO, and its parent company Warner Bros. Discovery, don’t own broadcast networks, they face less oversight from the Federal Communications Commission. He then pointed out that Paramount Skydance, CBS’s parent company, is considering a bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, and reacted to the news with strong language.

The hosts of ABC’s talk show, “The View,” are known for discussing controversial subjects. They hadn’t commented on the situation last week, but spoke about Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension on Monday.

“I can’t believe you thought we’d avoid discussing Jimmy Kimmel,” said host Whoopi Goldberg. “After 29 seasons of this show, we don’t let anyone stop us from speaking our minds.”

FCC head Carr has indicated that “The View” might be the next subject of a future investigation.

During the discussion, Ana Navarro and Alyssa Farah Griffin shared their thoughts before Joy Behar emphasized the importance of free speech, stating, “We defend everyone’s right to speak their mind because it protects my right to do the same, and yours as well.”

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2025-09-22 23:31