ABC announced the indefinite suspension of one of their most popular late-night TV talk shows, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Sept. 17. The decision to suspend the talk show came after Kimmel made comments about President Donald Trump’s reaction to the recent death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The show was pulled from air in response to the public pressure from Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr and ABC affiliates.
Over the following week, conversations were held about what would happen next and whether the decision posed a possible threat to freedom of speech.
Where does this conversation stand today?
As of Sept. 23, the talk show has returned to ABC, ending the nearly week-long standoff. Kimmel opened the show with an emotional apology, stating he didn’t intend to “make light of” Kirk’s murder. He also shared that he believes it’s important that “we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.”
The late-night show is still sparking outrage within the Trump administration, with President Donald Trump taking to Truth Social Sept. 23 to express his anger: “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back. The White House was told by ABC that his show was cancelled! Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his ‘talent’ was never there.”
The public’s response
Kimmel’s suspension was sudden for many, sending a shock wave throughout the entertainment industry. He employed about 200-250 people, all of whom woke up with a job Sept. 17, then went home wondering if they’d still have one. There were organized protests against Disney outside their office buildings in New York and California as people denounced the threat against freedom of speech.
Kimmel has received lots of support from many notable figures, including Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks and former President Barack Obama. Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said ABC “should never have suspended him to begin with and resisted the government’s desire to control what people say.”
