Jimmy Kimmel has been pulled off the air indefinitely after comments he made Monday about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The announcement came just hours before “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was set to air, catching Hollywood and fans off guard.
In Monday’s monologue, Kimmel criticized MAGA supporters.
“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” he said.
Immediate celebrity reaction
Celebrity reactions flooded social media within minutes of the suspension.
Comedian Wanda Sykes, who had been scheduled as a guest Wednesday night, instead posted on Instagram.
“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,” she said. “Hey, for those of you who pray, now’s the time to do it.”
Actor Ben Stiller kept his message brief, writing on X: “This isn’t right.”
Stiller also disabled comments on his post.
Actress Jean Smart posted a photo with Kimmel, saying she was sickened by Kirk’s death but adding, “What Jimmy said was FREE speech, not hate speech. People seem to only want to protect free speech when it suits THEIR agenda.”
MSNBC’s Chris Hayes also weighed in, calling the suspension “the most straightforward attack on free speech from state actors I’ve ever seen in my life and it’s not even close.”
Don Lemon, a long-time CNN host who was let go shortly after negative comments he made on then-Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, spoke out.
“The folks who complain about killing comedy are killing comedy,” Lemon said on social media. “The folks that are complaining about canceling people are canceling people.”
CNN’s Jake Tapper told viewers to “follow the money.”
“In August, Nexstar, the largest owner of TV stations in the country, announced that they wanted to purchase their rival, Tegna, for more than $6 billion,” he said.
Tapper noted that FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, had publicly criticized Kimmel’s comments early Wednesday and urged local stations to pull “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” By linking the timing, Tapper suggested the suspension may be tied more to political pressure and less over Kimmel’s actual remarks.
Comedian Mike Birbiglia called out fellow comics.
“If you’re a comedian and you don’t call out the insanity of pulling Kimmel off the air – don’t bother spouting off about free speech anymore,” Birbiglia said.
Unions push back
Hollywood unions also condemned the move.
“Our society depends on freedom of expression,” SAG-AFTRA wrote in a statement. “Suppression of free speech and retaliation for speaking out on significant issues of public concern run counter to the fundamental rights we all rely on. Democracy thrives when diverse points of view are expressed. The decision to suspend airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! is the type of suppression and retaliation that endangers everyone’s freedoms.”
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) also released a lengthy statement.
“The right to speak our minds and to disagree with each other – to disturb, even – is at the very heart of what it means to be a free people,” the statement said. “It is not to be denied. Not by violence, not by the abuse of governmental power, nor by acts of corporate cowardice. As a Guild, we stand united in opposition to anyone who uses their power and influence to silence the voices of writers, or anyone who speaks in dissent. Shame on those in government who forget this founding truth. As for our employers, our words have made you rich. Silencing us impoverishes the whole world. The WGA stands with Jimmy Kimmel and his writers.”
The Musicians Union echoed similar criticism.
“This is not complicated: Trump’s FCC identified speech it did not like and threatened ABC with extreme reprisals,” the union’s president, Tino Gagliardi, said. “This is state censorship. It’s now happening in the United States of America, not some far-off country. It’s happening right here and right now.
Political leaders weigh in
Several high-profile politicians also spoke out on the suspension.
“Everybody across the political spectrum should be speaking out to stop what’s happening to Jimmy Kimmel,” Sen. Chuck Schumer wrote on X. “This is about protecting democracy. This must go to court.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren added, “First Colbert, now Kimmel. Last-minute settlements, secret side deals, multi-billion dollar mergers pending Donald Trump’s approval. Trump silencing free speech stifles our democracy. It sure looks like giant media companies are enabling his authoritarianism.”
Former President Barack Obama also responded on social media.
“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,” Obama wrote.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom accused Republicans of censorship, writing, “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.”
Trump and allies support suspension
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump praised the suspension, calling it “great news for America.” He encouraged NBC, home of Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, to take similar steps.
Several Trump-aligned figures agreed with the decision.
Rep. Don Bacon, a moderate Republican from Nebraska, said he was uncomfortable with the suspension.
“I think it would have been better just to shame him,” Bacon told C-Span Journal according to Business Insider. “People have a right to listen to what they want. If they don’t like it, don’t listen to it. I get a little worried about this cancel culture that we have.”
When will Kimmel’s show air again?
Kimmel’s time slot will be filled Friday night with a Charlie Kirk special on stations owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair, one of the companies behind pulling Jimmy Kimmel Live from ABC affiliates, also said it wants Kimmel to issue an apology and said he should make a donation to Kirk’s family and his organization, Turning Point USA.
Sinclair said it does not plan to air the late-night show again until “appropriate steps” are taken.
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