Jimmy Kimmel’s super-famous late-night show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, was recently canceled by ABC after his comments on the shooting of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk. Now, people are stepping up to extend their support to him, including Kevin Nash.
WWE Hall Of Famer, Kevin Nash weighs in on the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel
Due to his recent comments about Charlie Kirk. pic.twitter.com/Klzs5q93Dm
Taking to his X handle @RealKevinNash, the legendary WWE Hall of Famer and retired professional wrestler condemned this decision from the network while emphasizing his decision to boycott ABC over the same. He wrote in the since-deleted post (via @FadeAwayMedia on X),
Well @ABCNetwork, you’re programming will not be viewed in my home. I guess freedom of speech doesn’t exist at your network. In times like this America looks for a spine. I’ll wait and see where @JimmyKimmel lands. Pathetic!
This comes after a spokesperson for the Disney-owned network mentioned in a statement, “Jimmy Kimmel Live will be pre-empted indefinitely.” Kimmel’s show has been slashed in the wake of the comments he made about how the “MAGA gang” was trying to score political points off the late political activist’s assassination on September 10 (via BBC).
Jimmy Kimmelʼs Comments on Charlie Kirk’s Death Landed Him in Trouble
Per BBC, within a week of the shooting, on Tuesday, a 22-year-old suspect, Tyler Robinson, appeared in court, charged with aggravated murder over the k*ll*ng of the conservative activist, 31. This prompted a critically mocking response from Kimmel, who said in his Monday night monologue,
The MAGA Gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.
The talk show host also went on to scrutinize the flags being flown at half mast in honor of Kirk, and once again poked fun at the President of the United States, this time mocking Donald Trump over his reaction to the assassination attempt. Commenting on the same, he said,
This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he calls a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.
These comments ostensibly landed him in trouble, provoking criticism, including from the chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Brendan Carr. The head of the US communications regulator even commented on Wednesday that Kimmel had shown “the sickest conduct possible,” all the while urging Disney to take action.
Kimmel previously took to his Instagram page to condemn the attack on Charlie Kirk and send “love” to the conservative activist’s family.
Jimmy Kimmel Is Gaining Tremendous Support Amidst His Show’s Cancellation
Of course, his show’s being canceled is being seen as a massive win by Donald Trump, who wrote in a social media post about how Kimmel’s suspension was “great news for America.” He wrote, “The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done” (per BBC).
At the same time, numerous others are supporting Kimmel besides Kevin Nash. This includes the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), two of Hollywood’s labour unions, among many others. Here’s what some of those comments in Kimmel’s support read on X:
The Writers Guild of America blasts the decision to suspend #JimmyKimmelLive: "The WGA stands with Jimmy Kimmel and his writers."
"The right to speak our minds and to disagree with each other – to disturb, even – is at the very heart of what it means to be a free people. It is… pic.twitter.com/fUwPcuFYxp
SAG-AFTRA has condemned the suspension of #JimmyKimmelLive
“Democracy thrives when diverse points of view are expressed”
“Our society depends on freedom of expression. Suppression of free speech and retaliation for speaking out on significant issues of public concern run… pic.twitter.com/zp6oitevyY
This isn’t right. https://t.co/mVJ8308w1k
Kimmel.
Colbert.
Suits against the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and 60 Minutes.
Extorting settlements from CBS, ABC, and others.
Blocking the AP's access to the White House.
This administration is responsible for the most blatant attacks on the free press in…
On Threads, as well, celebrities like Paul Scheer and Don Lemon, among others, sided with Kimmel. Actor and podcaster Scheer, for one, wrote on the platform,
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.
Lemon’s response was a bit more scathing than this as he called the decision “some scary sh*t” on Threads. His comment continued to read,
The folks that are complaining about canceling people are canceling people. What does that tell you? That they don’t believe in anything they’re saying. This is a very dangerous, scary moment.
Moreover, on Instagram, Wanda Sykes and Mike Birbiglia candidly took to their respective handles to defend and support Kimmel as well. While the former posted a video supporting Kimmel and criticizing the Trump administration, the latter wrote his thoughts out on a piece of paper about wanting his fellow comedians to stand up for Kimmel. Here’s what they had to say.
A post shared by WS (@iamwandasykes)
A post shared by Mike Birbiglia (@birbigs)
All in all, it feels like Jimmy Kimmel isn’t alone in this particular battle. Plus, a person familiar with the talk show host’s situation did tell CNBC, though, that Kimmel had not been fired yet, and that the bosses at the network intended to speak to him about what he should say when he goes back on air, so that’s that too (per BBC).
What do you think about all this? Do you share the same opinions as the Jimmy Kimmel defenders and find this unjust, or do you side with his late-night talk show’s cancellation? Don’t forget to let us know in the comments section below.
The already-released episodes of Jimmy Kimmel Live! can currently be streamed on the ABC Network and Hulu.