America's late-night TV hosts have rallied behind fellow comedian Jimmy Kimmel after he was suspended by ABC in a row over comments he made about the killing of Charlie Kirk.
Stephen Colbert began his show by saying 'we are all Jimmy Kimmel' and termed the star's removal a 'blatant assault on freedom of speech'. Seth Meyers declared it was 'a privilege and honour to call Jimmy Kimmel my friend', while Jon Stewart and Jimmy Fallon tackled the free speech issue in satirical sketches where they seemingly praised Donald Trump.
The backlash came shortly after President Trump threatened that major TV networks could have their licenses 'taken away' for what he perceives as negative coverage.
For years, Trump has focused on media figures he views as adversaries. Kimmel's suspension raises questions about free speech and whether it signals capitulation by media companies to political pressures, or whether it marks a necessary reckoning. The incident has sent a chill through liberal America and energized Trump's supporter base.
Kimmel's contentious remarks—which referred to Kirk's alleged killer as part of the 'Maga gang'—prompted a response from the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Brendan Carr, who condemned them as 'sick' and hinted at regulatory repercussions.
As discussions unfold, Kimmel's situation spotlights the divide in America, with some viewing his suspension as a vital free speech battle, while critics from the right label him a purveyor of misinformation.
In a polarized landscape, opinions on the late-night hosts' responses vary, with some pundits, like Greg Gutfeld, arguing that Kimmel's situation reflects the limits of free speech on nonpartisan media platforms.
Ultimately, the events surrounding Kimmel highlight the precarious intersection of comedy, censorship, and political discourse in contemporary media.
