Kimmel Returns to Air, Defends Free Speech Following Suspension
Jimmy kimmel returned to “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Tuesday, delivering an emotional monologue addressing his recent suspension and defending the importance of free speech. The return came after a period of controversy sparked by jokes made about Charlie Kirk, a conservative commentator.
Kimmel marked the occasion by sharing a photo of himself with the late Norman Lear, the iconic television creator with whom he collaborated on ”Live in Front of a Studio Audience.” He captioned the image “Missing this guy today.” Lear, a staunch advocate for freedom of speech and the First Amendment, founded People for the American Way, an association dedicated to combating censorship.
The controversy began after pressure mounted for Kimmel’s suspension, initiated by FCC Commissioner Nathan Carr, who stated in a podcast interview that ABC needed to address Kimmel’s comments. Shortly after, Nexstar, controlling 32 ABC affiliates, announced it would drop “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” indefinitely. ABC followed suit, pulling the show from its network. Sinclair, a media company with a history of conservative leaning, went further, demanding Kimmel make a financial contribution to Kirk’s family and his organization, Turning Point USA.
Former President Donald Trump weighed in on the situation via Truth social, expressing disbelief at the show’s return, claiming, “The White House was told by ABC that his show was cancelled [sic]!” He continued with criticism of Kimmel, stating, ”He is yet another arm of the DNC and, to the best of my knowlege, that would be a major Illegal Campaign Contribution.” Trump also referenced a previous defamation lawsuit he filed against ABC over statements made by George Stephanopoulos, noting a $16 million settlement and suggesting a similar outcome could be “even more lucrative” this time.
FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez, the sole Democratic member of the three-person commission, strongly criticized the network’s decision. In a statement, she asserted the FCC ”does not have the authority…to police content or punish broadcasters for speech the government dislikes,” calling ABC’s move a “shameful show of cowardly corporate capitulation” that threatened the First Amendment. “When corporations surrender in the face of that pressure, they endanger not just themselves, but the right to free expression for everyone in this country,” Gomez stated. “Free speech is the foundation of our democracy, and we must push back against any attempt to erode it.”
(Times staff writers Stephen Battaglio and Meg James contributed to this report.)