NEED TO KNOW
- On Wednesday, Sept. 17, a spokesperson for Disney’s ABC confirmed that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would be on indefinite hiatus
- The news follows Jimmy Kimmel’s reaction to Charlie Kirk’s death
- Celebrities across Hollywood have since responded on social media
Hollywood is reacting after Jimmy Kimmel Live! was pulled from ABC.
On Wednesday, Sept 17, a spokesperson for Disney’s ABC confirmed that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would be on indefinite hiatus.
The decision came after Kimmel made comments about the death of right-wing political commentator Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot while speaking at a campus event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, Sept. 10. He was 31.
Kimmel reacted during a broadcast of his show on Monday, Sept. 15, saying, “The 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. In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.”
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Nexstar Media, which is the largest local broadcast and digital media company in the U.S, said that it “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.”
Nexstar recently announced plans to acquire rival broadcast company Tegna for $6.2 billion, a massive deal that would further consolidate the local television landscape and put Nexstar in 80% of America’s TV-owning households, according to a press release. The acquisition will require final approval from the Trump-controlled Federal Communications Commission.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr quickly praised Nexstar on Wednesday for putting pressure on ABC to remove Kimmel, writing on X that “it is important for broadcasters to push back on Disney programming that they determine falls short of community values.”
After the announcement, many celebrities reacted to the news online.
Comedian Wanda Sykes shared a video on Instagram, explaining that she was scheduled to appear on Kimmel Wednesday night. “Let’s see. He didn’t end the Ukraine war or solve Gaza within his first week. But he did end freedom of speech within his first year. Hey, for those of you who pray, now’s the time to do it. Love you, Jimmy,” Sykes said.
“I’ve spent a lot of time in public + private defending comedians I don’t agree with,” comedian Mike Birbiglia wrote on Instagram. “If you’re a comedian + don’t call out the insanity of pulling Kimmel off the air — don’t bother spouting fof about free speech anymore.”
Fellow comedian Roseanne Barr wrote on X, “I’m available to fill in @ABCNetwork.”
Megyn Kelly shared a post about the news on X, writing, “Just think for a minute about the amount of IRATE mail/viewer feedback they must have gotten to do this.”
Chris Hayes wrote on X, “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.”
Ben Stiller also shared a post about the announcement on X, writing, “This isn’t right.”
Sophia Bush did the same, writing on X, “The First Amendment doesn’t exist in America anymore. Period. Fascism is here and it’s chilling.”
Alex Edelman wrote on X, “This is the actual cancel culture everyone claims to hate so much.”
Sen. Cory Booker, a Democrat, shared his thoughts on Instagram by posting a photo of the text of the First Amendment. Michael Kosta also shared the same text on his Instagram Stories.
Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett shared similar sentiments, writing on X: “Kimmel hurts MAGA’S feelings by holding a mirror up & so the first amendment is out the window and his show is pulled… who is going to tell them that, that is the definition of being a snowflake… as well as supporting anti-democratic ideals? (Not patriotic at all).”
Her post continued: “Now is anyone going to talk about the fact that Faux News had an anchor say that mentally ill homeless people should be given ‘involuntary lethal injection,’ and days later an unhoused man is strung up in a Tree in Mississippi & an entire homeless encampment was targeted where 2 individuals were shot in the head & 5 others were injured in Minnesota… NO OUTRAGE, let alone coverage, because you only value certain lives & certain speech. I’m waiting on y’all soft asses to cancel rainbows.”
Kathy Griffin wrote in a statement shared on Instagram: “Please, take it from me, it is very important to have Jimmy Kimmel’s back right now. Be vocal. Be an ideological consumer. Money is all their crown cares about.”
Jean Smart reaction by sharing a photo of her and Kimmel on Instagram. She wrote in the caption, “I am horrified at the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel Live. What Jimmy said was FREE speech, not hate speech. People seem to only want to protect free speech when it suits THEIR agenda. Though I didn’t agree at ALL with Charlie Kirk; his shooting death sickened me; and should have sickened any decent human being. What is happening to our country?”
Don Lemon wrote on threads: “The Jimmy Kimmel Live! show has been preempted indefinitely over a joke. This should send a chill down everyone’s spine in America!”
John Legend shared on his Instagram Stories a screengrab of a post by David Frum that reads, “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.”
Jon Cryer wrote on Bluesky, “Very much looking forward to Elon Musk’s spirited defense of Jimmy Kimmel’s free speech.”
Christie Brinkley shared a photo of the hosts of late night on her Instagram Stories writing, “Love these guys ! The laughter they provide us is as important as the air we breath! And they are taking another one of them off the air tonight! WE MUST PROTECT their and OUR 1st Anendnent RIGHTS!!!!”
Geraldo Rivera wrote on X, “Regarding Jimmy Kimmel, censorship sucks, but so does inflaming hatred. America’s in a tight spot right now. We don’t have to agree, but we have to respect each other.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed on X: “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.”
Alison Brie shared a screenshot of a news alert on her Instagram Stories, writing, “This is unreal. And very scary.”
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Halsey also shared a screengrab from a news announcement on her Instagram Stories, writing, “we’re in the ‘tell on your friends and neighbors’, ‘extreme censorship’, ‘indistinguishable propaganda’ part of the fascism, in case it wasn’t clear.”
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