Gavin Newsom, Ben Stiller, and More Come to Jimmy Kimmel’s Defense

by

So, this is getting pretty wild. ABC just announced they’re pausing new episodes of *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* indefinitely, and it all stems from a joke setup Kimmel did about the guy who allegedly tried to harm Charlie Kirk. Basically, right-wing commentators got really upset, and even the FCC Chair, Brendan Carr, got involved. He hinted at potentially revoking ABC’s broadcasting licenses because Kimmel suggested the attacker might be connected to the MAGA movement. It’s crazy to me that they’re coming after the show for *what he said leading up to* the joke, not the actual punchline! Carr basically told a YouTuber that ABC could either change Kimmel’s behavior or face more scrutiny from the FCC. Now, ABC’s parent company, Nexstar, is pulling the show from its stations, and ABC followed suit by halting new episodes. It feels like a really concerning overreaction to a joke, and a dangerous precedent for late-night comedy.

Former President Trump celebrated the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel’s show on his social media platform, Truth Social. He praised ABC for the decision, calling Kimmel untalented and noting his lower ratings compared to Stephen Colbert. Trump also urged NBC to cancel shows hosted by Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, labeling them “total losers” with “horrible” ratings. MSNBC’s Chris Hayes strongly criticized the move, calling it an unprecedented attack on free speech. Meanwhile, figures like Ben Stiller, Senator Adam Schiff, and Governor Gavin Newsom voiced their disapproval of both the comments that led to the cancellation and ABC’s decision to take Kimmel off the air.

Chris Hayes

Hayes centered his response on comments made by Carr, accusing “state actors” of being responsible for Kimmel’s temporary removal from the air. He expressed this view on Twitter, stating it was the most direct attack on free speech he’d ever witnessed.

Ben Stiller

Ben Stiller simply shared a Wall Street Journal report by Joe Flint, adding the comment, “This isn’t right.”

Gavin Newsom

Governor Newsom suggested that Jimmy Kimmel’s show ending is part of a larger pattern, similar to the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show, the firing of Matthew Dowd from MSNBC, and the changes happening at TikTok with Trump supporters gaining control. He believes these events aren’t random, but a deliberate effort by the Republican party to suppress free speech and control information. He stated they are actively censoring people now.

Adam Schiff

I was really struck by what Adam Schiff said about Jimmy Kimmel. He pointed out it’s similar to what happened to Stephen Colbert, and reminded everyone about all the lawsuits Trump filed against major news organizations like the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and 60 Minutes. Schiff believes this administration has launched the most aggressive attacks on the press we’ve ever seen, and he worries about what will become of freedom of speech if this continues. It’s a scary thought – what will be left of the First Amendment?

JB Pritzker

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker criticized the decision to cancel Jimmy Kimmel, calling it a threat to free speech in a post on Bluesky. He encouraged elected officials to defend First Amendment rights, stating that a healthy democracy shouldn’t punish comedians for expressing views the President dislikes, and that this kind of censorship shouldn’t be tolerated.

Joyce Carol Oates

Joyce Carol Oates spoke out in support of Jimmy Kimmel even though she doesn’t typically watch late-night comedy. She wrote that it’s unfortunate anyone would be quickly fired for something they said, even if it was clumsy or offensive. Oates pointed out that humor often pushes boundaries and isn’t meant to be taken literally, and that a lack of audience reaction is often enough consequence for a joke that doesn’t land well.

Read More

2025-09-18 04:54