Woke Hollywood Rallies to Defend Jimmy Kimmel Amid ABC Suspension
BOMBSHELL! Jimmy Kimmel's Talk Show Canceled After Scathing Comments About Conservative Influencer
In a shocking turn of events, ABC has indefinitely pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! from its airwaves following the talk show host's incendiary remarks about conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. The network announced on Wednesday that it would not be airing Kimmel's show "for the foreseeable future," leaving fans and fellow celebrities stunned.
The drama began when 22-year-old Tyler Robinson was taken into custody for allegedly assassinating Kirk at Utah Valley University last week. In a scathing monologue, Kimmel accused the "MAGA gang" of trying to gain political points from Kirk's murder. But what really raised eyebrows was Kimmel's insinuation that Robinson, the suspected shooter, was conservative - despite investigators revealing he had far-left ideologies and was in a romantic relationship with his transgender roommate.
The network's affiliate group, Nexstar, slammed Kimmel's comments, stating it "strongly objects" to them and will replace the show with other programming in its ABC-affiliated markets. The decision has left many in the entertainment industry reeling, with celebrities weighing in on social media.
STARS SPEAK OUT AGAINST ABC'S DECISION
Halsey reposted the news on her Instagram stories, adding a sassy comment: "We're in the 'tell on your friends and neighbors' 'extreme censorship' 'indistinguishable propaganda' part of the fascism in case it wasn't clear." Singer John Legend shared a post by David Frum, which 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.'"
Ben Stiller jumped on X (formerly Twitter) to repost the news of ABC taking Kimmel off the air and typed out, "This isn't right." Political commentator Chris Hayes tweeted, "This is the most straightforward attack on free speech from state actors I've ever seen in my life and it's not even close."
GOVERNORS AND HOSTS WEIGH IN
California Governor Gavin Newsom took to X to express his concerns about the censorship of media platforms. He wrote, "Buying and controlling media platforms. Firing commentators. Canceling shows. These aren't coincidences. It's coordinated. And it's dangerous." The @GOP does not believe in free speech. They are censoring you in real time."
Community actress Alison Brie shared her thoughts on Instagram, writing, "This is unreal. And very scary." Don Lemon labeled the news as "scary s**t" on Threads and further expressed that "the folks that are complaining about canceling people are canceling people." He added, "What does that tell you? That they don't believe in anything they're saying. This is a very dangerous, scary moment."
PRESIDENT TRUMP WEIGHS IN WITH HIS TWO CENTS
President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform on Wednesday to share his thoughts on Kimmel's cancellation. He wrote, "Great News for America: The ratings-challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done." Trump claimed that Kimmel has "ZERO talent" and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that's possible.
The U.S. president referenced late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert, whose show was canceled by CBS in July after 10 years on the air. Despite the cancellation, Colbert won an Emmy for Outstanding Talk Series over the weekend. Trump mocked him during a recent episode of The Late Show, saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome one and all. Welcome to The Late Show. I'm your host, Steven Colbert. I'm sorry. I meant to say welcome to the Emmy Award-winning Late Show."
COLBERT FIRES BACK AT TRUMP
Colbert responded to Trump's jab during his show on Tuesday by saying, "Speaking of Emmys, uh, Donald Trump doesn't have one." The comedian recently mocked Trump for not having an Emmy award, despite being a former president.
In related news, President Trump announced this week that he is suing the New York Times in a $15B defamation lawsuit. The suit comes after the paper published an article accusing him of spreading false information about voter fraud during the 2020 election.
The drama surrounding Kimmel's show cancellation has left many wondering what's next for the embattled talk show host and the network that once supported him. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: this is a battle for free speech in America.
