Kimmel Show Suspended After Kirk Remarks, Igniting Major Free Speech Debate
ABC indefinitely suspended 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' after host's remarks on Charlie Kirk's assassination, igniting a national debate on free speech and drawing political backlash.
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Overview
- Conservative influencer Charlie Kirk was shot and killed on September 10 at Utah Valley University, an event that quickly became a focal point for national discussion.
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! was indefinitely suspended by ABC following remarks made by the host about Charlie Kirk's assassination, drawing significant backlash and debate.
- The suspension followed pressure from the administration and MAGA figures, with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr threatening ABC's license, raising concerns about government censorship.
- President Trump called for revoking licenses from critical networks, while Kamala Harris and Mark Ruffalo criticized him, intensifying the national debate over free speech principles.
- Late-night hosts condemned ABC's action as censorship, viewing it as part of a broader threat to free speech under the Trump administration, amidst Kimmel's declining ratings.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as a concerning escalation of government pressure on free speech and media independence. They emphasize how officials' actions, coupled with networks' financial interests, create an environment where critical voices are suppressed. The narrative highlights the collective alarm among free speech advocates and late-night hosts, portraying the suspension as a dangerous precedent.
"Random raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, attacks on the media, the shutting down of people like Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert, the withholding of funds already appropriated by Congress to universities and social organizations, and attacks on law firms are not the actions of a democratic government, but rather those of an authoritarian regime."
Chicago Tribune"All this has led to growing worries from First Amendment advocates."
USA TODAY"This isn't random, incident-based chaos. This is coordinated censorship in the name of corporate profits."
USA TODAY"The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel's show has raised questions over speech freedom and the First Amendment."
Business Insider"The government should not be in the silencing business"
USA TODAY"The chain of events Wednesday that ended with the show’s being pulled appeared to begin when Carr went on right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson’s show and called for Kimmel to be suspended."
NBC News"Colbert said shutting down this type of political speech represents a “serious threat to our freedoms”."
Deadline"Fallon came to Kimmel's defense, telling viewers, "To be honest with you all, I don't know what’s going on, and no one does. But I do know Jimmy Kimmel, and he's a decent, funny and loving guy, and I hope he comes back.""
USA TODAY"The controversy has reignited concerns about the pressure the Trump administration is putting on media companies - and whether they are willing to fight back at the expense of their bottom line."
BBC News"Colbert mocked Disney for pulling Jimmy Kimmel Live! and stood up for freedom of speech."
Deadline"Colbert, however, responded to that by saying that "people across the country are shocked by this blatant assault on the freedom of speech.""
USA TODAY"Kimmel’s suspension comes alongside wider efforts by Trump and other conservatives to police speech following Kirk’s killing."
Chicago Tribune"The indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmelâs TV show amid pressure from the FCC is prompting libertarian-leaning Republicans to consider redrawing their boundaries when it comes to limiting speech."
Semafor"Kimmel’s suspension comes alongside wider efforts by Trump and other conservatives to police speech following Kirk’s killing."
Associated Press"Obama urged media companies to start standing up rather than capitulating to government coercion that threatens the First Amendment."
USA TODAY"the situation "would be hilarious if it wasn't all leading to something from which we won't recover.""
USA TODAY"The FCC kind of pinpointing particular programs to cancel is concerning to people who advocate for television to be a forum for free discussion and debate."
Associated Press"Cancel culture is a game liberals played aggressively, and it throttled conservative views that millions of decent, honest, hardworking Americans share."
USA TODAY"The fallout continues for people who have made controversial comments about the Sept. 10 killing of political activist and podcaster Charlie Kirk."
USA TODAY"The FCC's present actions are thwarting this very noble work."
Reason"The message to ABC was clear: a government official was using the same tone as an old-fashioned mobster, that something needed to change at the network to appease Trump."
Gizmodo"The suspension is being cheered by Republicans, including Trump and Carr himself."
NPR"Carr's bullying is untenable even under current law and policy."
Reason"Trump’s efforts appear to be escalating after Kirk’s assassination, with broader implications for the future of free speech protections that have been a bedrock of the American political system."
Chicago Tribune"Kimmel’s television future hung in the balance Thursday after ABC suspended his late-night show following the host’s comments about the assassination of Charlie Kirk, leaving the network’s parent company to decide whether supporting him is worth the risk to its business."
Chicago Tribune"The Federal Communications Commission’s chairman called Kimmel’s comments “truly sick” and said his agency had a strong case for holding Kimmel, ABC and network parent Walt Disney Co. accountable for spreading misinformation."
Chicago Tribune"Trump's words are far from the first case of tension between the president and late-night TV hosts, who've long used Trump as the punchline in their monologues and frequently criticized his policies."
USA TODAY"The killing of Charlie Kirk itself is extremely dangerous for free speech, but then we've seen this tremendous crackdown and retaliatory response attacking people for their speech and their viewpoints coming from political figures that is threatening to get people fired, deported or arrested for their speech."
USA TODAY"Bad jokes fade. Bad government overreach endures."
Chicago Tribune"The media advocacy group Free Press said that Carr's "Federal Censorship Commission" reached a "new low" in its push to get Kimmel off the air."
ARS Technica"Trump addressed ABC indefinitely suspending Kimmel’s for the first time publicly during a Sept.18 joint news conference alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as he concluded a three-day state visit to the United Kingdom."
USA TODAY"Carr has attracted broad criticism, including from leading Democrats demanding his resignation."
USA TODAY"After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn't like."
Business Insider"Trump’s efforts appear to be escalating after Kirk’s assassination, with broader implications for the future of free speech protections that have been a bedrock of the American political system."
Associated Press"Selective outrage seems to trump free speech these days."
USA TODAY"The schedule shift came the morning after the jolt of ABC pulling Jimmy Kimmel from the air indefinitely, the most dramatic reaction yet to public comments about the killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk."
Deadline"Kimmel’s television future hung in the balance Thursday after ABC suspended his late-night show following the host’s comments about Charlie Kirk’s killing, which prompted dozens of stations to say they wouldn’t air the show."
Associated Press"ABC’s suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s show following comments he made about the killing of Charlie Kirk drew reactions from across the entertainment and political worlds, including from President Donald Trump."
Associated Press"The circumstances under which he has been suspended should alarm anyone who cares about free speech."
The Free Press"It's a shocking and unprecedented development in the world of late-night, in the TV industry at large and the country itself."
USA TODAY"The issue is that Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Brendan Carr suggested the agency might punish ABC, pulling its broadcast license in retribution."
Reason"The hole left by Kimmel's absence in the daily line-up will certainly be felt by cable viewers."
USA TODAY"Trump's tirade follows a decision by ABC, Kimmel's home network, to pull the comedian's show indefinitely following comments he made in the wake of Charlie Kirk's murder."
USA TODAY"The top US communications regulator threatened to take action over Kimmel’s on-air comments, in what The New York Times characterized as “an extraordinary exertion of political pressure.”"
Semafor"The sudden move followed threats from the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission to the stations that carry the show, and backlash to comments Kimmel made this week about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk."
NPR"Hollywood is rallying behind Jimmy Kimmel, after his talk show, "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" got pulled from ABC."
Business Insider"The best way to uphold Kirk's legacy is to continue the work he started, by being free speech warriors and doing what the Turning Point USA cofounder did nationwide, dare the dissenters to "Prove Me Wrong.""
USA TODAY"Kimmel's removal comes after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr condemned Kimmel's recent monologue during an interview with YouTuber Benny Johnson."
NPR"Instead, the talk show "will be pre-empted indefinitely," an ABC spokesperson said in a statement to USA TODAY."
USA TODAY"Wednesday wasn’t a day the executives at Disney relished."
Deadline"The stunning dropping of Kimmel comes mere minutes after Nexstar axed his late night show on the 32 ABC affiliates it owns out of a total of 200 stations throughout the nation."
Deadline"Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show has been pulled from the airwaves following comments he made about Charlie Kirk's assassination."
USA TODAY"ABC confirmed Wednesday that the popular late-night show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" has been "pre-empted indefinitely" following comments Kimmel made on the show in response to the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk."
CBS News"ABC has suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show indefinitely after comments he made about Charlie Kirk’s killing."
Chicago Sun-Times"ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show indefinitely beginning Wednesday after comments that he made about Charlie Kirk’s killing led a group of ABC-affiliated stations to say it would not air the show."
Associated Press"The stunning sudden dropping of Kimmel comes mere minutes after Nexstar axed his late night show on the 32 ABC affiliates it owns out of a total of 200 stations throughout the nation."
Deadline"Nexstar strongly objects to recent comments made by Mr. Kimmel concerning the killing of Charlie Kirk and will replace the show with other programming in its ABC-affiliated markets."
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FAQ
The show was suspended indefinitely after host Jimmy Kimmel made controversial remarks about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which sparked significant political backlash and debate over free speech.
The suspension led to major backlash with MAGA figures and the Trump administration pressuring ABC; FCC Chairman Brendan Carr threatened ABC's license, and President Trump called for revoking licenses from critical networks, while Kamala Harris and Mark Ruffalo criticized these moves, fueling a national free speech debate.
Jimmy Kimmel made a monologue joke that attributed the killing of Charlie Kirk to political motivations and criticized efforts to portray the suspect differently, which was viewed as controversial and insensitive by some, leading to the show's suspension.
Several late-night hosts condemned ABC's action as censorship and expressed concern that it contributed to a broader threat to free speech under the Trump administration.
The controversy occurred amidst declining ratings for 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!', adding to the pressures facing the show prior to its suspension.
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