Newsroom
Jimmy Kimmel came back on air Tuesday night swinging at the Trump administration, saying government threats to silence comedians are “anti-American.”
It was his first night back after Disney suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! under pressure from Trump officials, a move that set off protests, Hollywood petitions, and a heated debate over free speech.
More than 400 stars, from Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks to Jennifer Aniston and Robert De Niro, signed an open letter calling Disney’s suspension a “dark moment for freedom of speech.”
“This show is not important,” Kimmel told viewers. “What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.”
The comedian had been pulled from ABC last week after a fiery monologue about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s shooting sparked backlash from Trump allies. The White House and the head of the FCC piled on, with Trump himself cheering Kimmel’s suspension. Some big affiliate groups, including Sinclair and Nexstar, even refused to air the show.
But Hollywood rallied to his defense. More than 400 stars, from Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks to Jennifer Aniston and Robert De Niro, signed an open letter calling Disney’s suspension a “dark moment for freedom of speech.” Even some Republicans, including Senator Ted Cruz, backed Kimmel’s right to speak his mind. Facing mounting pressure, Disney reversed course on Monday, allowing the show to resume.
On his return, Kimmel struck both contrite and defiant notes. He clarified he never meant to make light of Kirk’s death and acknowledged why some people were hurt by his words. But he also hammered Trump for what he called “bullying tactics.”
“The president of the United States made it very clear he wants to see me and the hundreds of people who work here fired,” Kimmel said. “Our leader celebrates Americans losing their livelihoods because he can’t take a joke.”
Kimmel also credited comedy pioneers like Lenny Bruce and George Carlin for teaching him that when government tries to muzzle a comedian, “that’s not just un-American, it’s anti-American.”
The clash isn’t over. Trump blasted ABC on social media just hours before the broadcast, mocking Kimmel’s ratings and hinting at fresh legal threats. And while ABC put the show back on air, Sinclair and Nexstar stations, which cover nearly a quarter of ABC affiliates, still refused to carry it.
For now, Jimmy Kimmel Live! is streaming on Hulu and Disney+, with Kimmel leaning on both his critics and his supporters to prove his point: free speech, he says, is no joke.
*Source: The Guardian
