Celebrities and American politicians are reacting to ABC’s decision to take Jimmy Kimmel’s long-running late night talk show off the air “indefinitely” following his comments about the assassination of right-wing personality Charlie Kirk.
Kimmel reacted to Kirk’s death on Monday and Tuesday nights where he made several remarks about the political reaction to the shooting and the suspect’s arrest.
鈥淭he MAGA Gang (is) 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,鈥 Kimmel said during his Monday night monologue. 鈥淚n between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.鈥
Jimmy Kimmel鈥檚 full comments on Charlie Kirk which led to his show being taken off air indefinitely.
鈥 Pop Crave (@PopCrave)
ABC, which has carried Kimmel鈥檚 late-night show since 2003, made the move after Nexstar Communications Group said it would pull the show from ABC affiliates starting Wednesday.聽
Ahead of the suspension announcement, U.S. Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr appeared on the Benny Johnson podcast and called Kimmel’s comments a “very, very serious issue” for Disney, ABC’s network parent.
鈥淲e can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to take action on Kimmel or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead,鈥 he said.
U.S. President Donald Trump called the suspension “great news for America,” in a post on .
“Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done. Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even (Stephen) Colbert, if that鈥檚 possible. That leaves Jimmy (Fallon) and Seth (Myers), two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!!” he wrote.
Buying and controlling media platforms.
鈥 Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom)
Firing commentators.
Canceling shows.
These aren鈥檛 coincidences.
It鈥檚 coordinated. And it鈥檚 dangerous.
The does not believe in free speech.
They are censoring you in real time.
Actor, director and comedian Ben Stiller simply posted “this isn’t right” to the announcement.
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom accused the Republican Party of censoring the media in a post on X.
“Buying and controlling media platforms. Firing commentators. Canceling shows. These aren鈥檛 coincidences. It鈥檚 co-ordinated. And it鈥檚 dangerous,” he wrote.
Comedian and podcaster Marc Maron accused ABC of “muzzling” Kimmel and taking him off the air to try and appease the Nexstar media conglomerate and Trump administration.聽
“This is government censorship. This is the Trump administration coming after people who speak out against him,” he said in a . “If you have any concern or belief in real freedom or the Constitution and free speech, this is it. This is the deciding moment. This is what authoritarianism looks like right now in this country.”
Pulling Kimmel’s show is the latest in a series of moves that add up to a suppression of
“This is the United States government silencing voices that they disagree with,” he added.聽聽
Comedian and actress Wanda Sykes posted a video on Instagram where she said she had been in full makeup, waiting to appear on the show when the suspension was announced.
”(Trump) didn’t end the Ukraine war or solve Gaza within his first week, but he did end freedom of speech within his first year. For those of you who pray, now’s the time. Love you Jimmy.”
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Kimmel’s suspension comes months after CBS announced 鈥淭he Late Show With Stephen Colbert鈥 would be canceled next May.
- David Bauder, Alicia Rancilio And Andrew Dalton The Associated Press
Colbert, a persistent critic of Trump, had criticized a settlement between the U.S. president and Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, days before, but the network attributed the cancellation to “financial reasons.”
Kirk, a longtime ally of Trump, was fatally shot in the neck while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10.
Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested Friday on suspicion of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily harm, and obstruction of justice, all felonies, according to a probable cause statement filed in court.
With files from the Associated Press
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