Jason Bateman Warns: 'Freedom of Speech Under Fire' as Jimmy Kimmel's Show Pulled
SHOCKING SUSPENSION SPARKS CELEBRITY OUTRAGE: ABC Pulls Plug on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Amid Freedom of Speech Frenzy
In a move that has left the entertainment industry reeling, ABC has indefinitely suspended Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show after he made some scathing comments about the assassination of Charlie Kirk. The decision has sparked a firestorm of controversy, with many questioning the network's commitment to free speech.
But one celebrity who isn't backing down is Jason Bateman, 56. The Hollywood A-lister joined Craig Melvin on NBC's Today show yesterday, and let's just say he didn't mince words about ABC's decision. "Well, it's troubling to say the least," Bateman said, his voice laced with concern. "And we all have to really take a moment and figure how we feel about this type of thing."
When Melvin pressed him for more details, Bateman was candid: "Especially people doing what you do [referring to Kimmel's hosting gig]. I'm sure there's going to be some sort of collective move to respond to this, but I'm not smart enough or powerful enough to be the one to do it... but I imagine there's plenty of conversations going on to do something, because you just can't stand by and let stuff like that go on."
Melvin followed up with a pointed question: "Stuff like what?" Bateman's response was direct: "Well, Jimmy getting his show pulled for freedom of speech." It's clear that Bateman is not alone in his outrage. Several other Hollywood heavyweights have publicly defended Kimmel and called out ABC for its decision.
Jamie Lee Curtis, Ben Stiller, Henry Winkler, and Alison Brie are just a few of the celebrities who have joined the chorus of criticism against ABC. Even singer John Legend weighed in on the controversy, sharing a scathing post from David Frum that read: "How dare you call us fascists just because our appointees threaten government retaliation against broadcast networks if their comedians don't say what we want them to say."
Meanwhile, MSNBC host Chris Hayes took to Twitter to denounce ABC's decision as "the most straightforward attack on free speech from state actors I've ever seen in my life and it's not even close." The reaction from the entertainment industry has been swift and furious, with many calling for ABC to reconsider its decision.
But what sparked this controversy in the first place? It all started when Kimmel made some incendiary comments about Charlie Kirk's assassination during his Monday night monologue. "The Maga Gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it," he said.
Kimmel also took a swipe at President Donald Trump's reaction to the shooting, comparing it to a child mourning the loss of a goldfish. "This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he calls a friend... This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish."
And then, the bombshell: ABC announced that Kimmel's show had been suspended indefinitely. The decision was met with widespread criticism, and Trump himself weighed in on the controversy. "The ratings-challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED," he tweeted. "Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done."
But it seems that Kimmel's suspension has only galvanized his fans, who are now rallying around him in support of free speech. And as for Jason Bateman? He's still speaking out against ABC's decision. "You can't just stand by and let this kind of thing happen," he said yesterday. It looks like the battle for freedom of speech is far from over.
Related Stories:
- Charlie Kirk: Who was the conservative commentator assassinated in Utah?
- Jimmy Kimmel's suspension sparks outrage across Hollywood: Here are the reactions
- ABC's decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live! has sparked a firestorm of controversy: What do you think about it?
