Bill Maher Calls Out ‘The View’ Hosts for Awkwardly Staying Silent About ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Suspension as Network Imposes Strict Rules — ‘It Won’t Kill You’

On September 19, Maher voiced his dismay on Real Time regarding The View‘s silence surrounding Jimmy Kimmel’s recent suspension.

He remarked, “I have good relations with the women of The View, but this week, they didn’t utter a word on Kimmel. Nothing at all!” He humorously continued, “But hey, it’s not in their nature to address issues. They’re just an upbeat party show. It’s the reason why they have hosts like Joy Behar and Sunny Hostin.”

Maher encouraged the hosts to take a stand, stating: “Ladies, make your voices heard! I promise it won’t hurt. I’ve faced similar situations, and here I am, still standing.”

It’s worth remembering, Maher’s own show Politically Incorrect faced cancellation back in 2001 after he described the 9/11 hijackers as not being “cowardly.”

“The intimidation coming from the right is nothing short of hypocritical,” Maher remarked during his monologue as he continued his sharp critique. “Good Morning America is rebranding to ‘Good Morning America: Even for Those Who Didn’t Vote for Trump.’

“Can you believe it? Next year, The Golden Bachelor is going to star Rudy Giuliani. Wolf Blitzer will be live from the Capitulation Room. The FCC has plans to intervene with The View. They’re even cooking up a new show called ‘Morning Wood’ hosted by James Woods.”

However, on Monday, September 22, Whoopi Goldberg addressed the issue on The View, stating, “Did you genuinely think we wouldn’t discuss Jimmy Kimmel? Have you not watched us over the last 29 seasons? No one can silence us.”

She added, “When the news about Kimmel’s suspension broke, we paused to see if he would comment first. Silence does not equal complicity. The government cannot pressure anyone to silence their voice… we stand for everyone’s right to free speech because that is what preserves my voice, and yours too.”

The controversy surrounding Kimmel erupted on September 15 when he critiqued the supposed actions of Kirk’s alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, and lambasted the Republican response.

He stated at the time: “Over the weekend, we witnessed new lows with the MAGA crowd attempting to depict this individual who killed Charlie Kirk as anything but indicative of them, all in an effort to score political points.”

Though seemingly benign initially, those remarks ignited a significant response from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who pledged “immediate action” against Kimmel, ABC, and Disney for their alleged misrepresentation of Robinson’s politics.

As a result, Kimmel was pulled from the air, leading to extensive backlash from the public, celebrities, and political figures, including former President Barack Obama and California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Maher expressed support for Kimmel during his show, stating: “So Jimmy, buddy, you have my backing. And hey, on the upside, no more pretending you enjoy Disneyland.”

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As of now, Kimmel remains off the air, but there may be a path back: an apology.

The broadcasting giant Sinclair, which manages the largest group of ABC affiliates, has laid out requirements for Kimmel to salvage his show.

Reports suggest that he must “issue a heartfelt apology to the Kirk family” and make a “substantial personal donation to the Kirk Family and Turning Point USA,” the nonprofit founded by Kirk that promotes conservative ideals on educational campuses.

Charlie Kirk was tragically shot and killed on September 10 while hosting an event at a college campus in Utah.