On a rather eventful Thursday in late-night television, hosts Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers found themselves united in a wave of solidarity for their colleague, Jimmy Kimmel, after ABC opted to suspend him following remarks made about conservative figure Charlie Kirk.
Kimmel’s comments during his Monday monologue did not sit well with some, prompting ABC’s decision to step in. He criticized the “MAGA gang,” accusing them of attempting to manipulate the narrative surrounding Kirk’s tragic death for political gain, claiming they were trying to detach the young perpetrator from their ideological sphere.
Amidst this backdrop, Colbert opened his show with a powerful declaration, asserting, “We are all Jimmy Kimmel,” framing the network’s actions as a direct attack on freedom of speech. Ironically, only earlier this year, Colbert’s own show faced cancellation for alleged financial reasons—a move that has left its final air date scheduled for May 2026 in looming uncertainty.
Joining this chorus of voices was Seth Meyers, who voiced concerns about a possible crackdown on free speech under the Trump administration, emphasizing, “It is a privilege and honor to call Jimmy Kimmel my friend, as it is to share this platform.” Such declarations add a layer of gravity to the unfolding situation, highlighting the intersections of political dialogue and entertainment.
ABC’s suspension, notably influenced by the network’s relationships with Sinclair and Nexstar—two crucial broadcasting partners who indicated their reluctance to air Kimmel’s show post-controversy—stirs deeper implications about editorial control and the pressures networks face from affiliates.
Interestingly, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has yet to act against ABC regarding Kimmel’s statements. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr publicly encouraged the network to take measures against Kimmel, citing a duty to serve the public interest, especially since networks like ABC, NBC, and CBS utilize public airwaves governed by stricter regulations.
Besides Colbert and Meyers, Fallon chimed in, lauding Kimmel as a “decent, funny, and loving guy,” while the ever-sardonic Jon Stewart did not shy away from employing sarcasm to critique the intentions behind the Trump administration’s alleged attacks on free expression. Stewart wryly remarked, “Some might suggest that this administration’s rampant aversion to speech scrutiny is merely a cunning distraction from an unprecedented power consolidation…” His tongue-in-cheek commentary served to illuminate the broader theme of media freedom in the current political climate.
Amid this turmoil, President Donald Trump took to the press during his UK visit, suggesting Kimmel’s ousting was due to “very bad ratings”—a rather inconspicuous critique that seemed to blend a dismissal of Kimmel’s comedic talents with a call to action against other late-night hosts. Trump asserted that Kimmel was “fired for a lack of talent,” thereby adding another layer of scrutiny to how ratings influence employment in the entertainment industry.
Trump was not finished there; he took to Truth Social to suggest that other late-night stars like Fallon and Meyers also faced unacceptable ratings and encouraged NBC to follow suit with their terminations. This scenario raises questions about the very metrics we use to gauge success in shows that often straddle the line between entertainment and political discourse.
Kimmel has remained silent on his suspension thus far, and The Epoch Times has reached out to ABC for further clarification on the decision-making process behind this controversial move.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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