Hollywood stars joined fans in criticizing ABC and its parent company Disney after Jimmy Kimmel was taken off the air. His show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, was indefinitely suspended over his comments about Charlie Kirk’s death. Ben Stiller simply tweeted on X, “This isn’t right!”
The Fantastic Four star Pedro Pascal posted a photo alongside Kimmel, with the comment, “Yay Gay”. He even promptly responded to a fan who told him to go back to his country.
CLOCK IT, PEDRO 👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/PhUb6ZsopU
Jamie Lee Curtis, who had earlier spoken emotionally about Kirk’s death, shared a post on her Instagram stories. It linked to a 2015 Rolling Stone interview, where Kimmel shared, “I don’t think anybody should be canceled. I really don’t.”
Wanda Sykes, who was Kimmel’s guest on the upcoming episode, criticized the Trump administration for the suspension of Kimmel’s show. She shared on Instagram, “Let’s see. 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.”
A post shared by WS (@iamwandasykes)
Several celebrities commented under Sykes’ post. Rosie O’Donnell wrote, “Shame on ABC and the FCC.” Actress Erika Alexander shared, “This is a damn shame.”
Jean Smart shared a picture with Kimmel on Instagram. She wrote, “I am horrified at the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel Live. What Jimmy said was FREE speech, not hate speech.” She further criticized MAGA allies, sharing that they only wanted to protect free speech when it suited their agenda.
Comedian Josh Gad called out Disney on Threads, sharing, “Hey Disney… this ain’t it.” Marvel star Marisa Tomei shared a post on her stories, urging the boycott of all Disney brands. Another Marvel star, Tatiana Maslany, also called for unsubscribing Disney+, ESPN, and Hulu subscriptions.
Marisa Tomei reshares post urging for the boycott of Disney brands. pic.twitter.com/7Ni0CSu3ui
#SheHulk star Tatiana Maslany has urged fans to cancel their Disney subscriptions
This comes after the company suspended #JimmyKimmelLive pic.twitter.com/QAeeb4g57V
Veteran comedian Kathy Griffin shared on Instagram that it was important to bring back Kimmel. She shared, “Be vocal. Be an ideological consumer. Money is all their crowd cares about.” Comedian Paul Scheer called out the hypocrisy in taking Kimmel off the air. He shared on Threads:
So let me get this straight. Kimmel is off the air for his comments about the politicization of an assassination but this is totally fine.
He was referring to Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeade’s suggestion of “involuntary lethal injection, or something” for homeless people. Comedian Mike Birbiglia shared a note on Instagram, calling on all comedians to call out the insanity of pulling Kimmel off the air.
A post shared by Mike Birbiglia (@birbigs)
The Big Bang Theory star Mayim Bialik reacted to Variety’s coverage of the news on Instagram, sharing, “NOT GOOD.” CNN host Don Lemon wrote on Threads, “This should send a chill down everyone’s spine in America.” Actor and writer, Adam Conover, also pointed out the alleged hypocrisy, sharing on X, “Tell me which side is anti-comedy and anti-free speech again.”
Late Night Hosts Come in Support of Jimmy Kimmel After Suspension
After Jimmy Kimmel Live!‘s suspension at ABC, fellow late-night show hosts have come in support of Kimmel. During the episode that aired on September 15, Kimmel shared in his monologue:
We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.
His comments came across as insensitive, and ABC suspended the program from airing until further notice. A statement from the network read, “We are confident that appropriate steps have been taken to uphold the standards expected of a national broadcast platform” (via USA Today).
Stephen Colbert, whose show was cancelled earlier this year, shared on Instagram, “The Late Show stands with Jimmy Kimmel and his staff.” Colbert spoke out against FCC chair Brendan Carr’s statement, sharing, “You know what my community values are, buster? Freedom of Speech.”
The Daily Show host Jon Stewart addressed Kimmel’s cancellation during his show. He sarcastically praised the Trump administration, sharing that he believed the administration’s concerns about freedom of speech were just great. He shared:
Our great administration has laid out very clear rules on free speech. Now some naysayers may argue that this administration’s speech concerns are merely a cynical ploy. A thin gruel of a ruse. A smoke screen to obscure an unprecedented consolidation of power and unitarian intimidation and coldly antithetical to any experiment in a constitutional republic governance. Some people would say that. Not me though. I think it’s great.
SNL alum and late show host Seth Meyers also called on his audience to stand for freedom of speech. He shared on his show, “This is a big moment in our democracy, and we must all stand up for the principles of free expression.” He further shared that he would not change the tone of his show for fear of retaliation.
Jimmy Fallon, who usually shies away from political talks, opened his Tonight Show by sharing, “The big story is that Jimmy Kimmel was suspended by ABC after pressure from the FCC leaving everyone thinking WTF.” He joked that he got hundreds of sorry messages, including one from his dad, which said: “I’m sorry they canceled your show.” He shared that Kimmel is “a decent, funny, and loving guy,” adding, “I hope he comes back.”
Immediately after the assassination, Kimmel took to Instagram and asked people to stop with the “angry finger-pointing.” He shared:
Instead of the angry finger-pointing, can we just, for one day, agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human? On behalf of my family, we send love to the Kirks and to all the children, parents, and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence.
In his monologue, Kimmel also mocked Trump’s reaction to Kirk’s death. He went on to share a video where Kimmel claimed that Trump was unbothered by the news.
Donald Trump Warns Media After Jimmy Kimmel Live! Suspension
Following the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, President Donald Trump has given a strong warning to the media. While addressing reporters from Air Force One, Trump claimed that 97% of the networks were against him ahead of last year’s elections.
He shared that he won, beating all those odds. He threatened the licenses of networks that work against him. He shared that their licenses could be taken away. Trump shared (via BBC):
Networks were 97 per cent against me, and yet I won easily. I won all seven swing states…They give me only bad press. I mean, they’re getting a license. I would think maybe their licenses should be taken away
Trump also mentioned that the licensing of networks was “up to [FCC Chair] Brendan Carr”. However, contrary to his suggestion, the FCC doesn’t issue licenses for TV networks.
What do you think of Kimmel being taken off the air? Let us know in the comments below!
