Late-Night Hosts Rally Behind Jimmy kimmel Following ABC Suspension
NEW YORK (October 6, 2023) – Late-night television hosts across networks voiced support for Jimmy Kimmel following his suspension by ABC news for his role in a controversial segment featuring Vice President Kamala Harris. The suspension, announced Thursday, sparked immediate backlash and ignited a debate over network independence and political pressure, with Kimmel’s colleagues using their own platforms to express solidarity and critique the decision.
The suspension comes amid heightened scrutiny of media organizations and their coverage of political figures, and raises concerns about the potential for external influence on journalistic integrity. Kimmel was sidelined for two weeks after ABC News President Kim Godwin deemed the segment, which featured a playful but pointed exchange with Harris about abortion access, insufficiently respectful. The move also follows the recent shutdown of The Daily Show‘s digital segments, attributed to financial reasons by Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, just days after Stephen Colbert criticized a settlement between Donald Trump and the media giant.
Stephen Colbert directly addressed the situation during Thursday’s episode of The late Show, opening with a modified rendition of “Be Our Guest” from Beauty and the Beast, replacing the lyrics with “Shut your trap. Shut your trap.” He later stated, ”I stand with Jimmy and his staff,” and dismissed the notion that ABC’s actions would appease critics, saying, “If ABC thinks that this is going to satisfy the regime, they are woefully naive.” colbert also responded to remarks from FCC Commissioner Nathan Carr regarding broadcasters’ obligation to challenge Disney programming, declaring, “Well, you know what my community values are, buster? Freedom of speech.”
colbert, in a conversation with New Yorker editor David Remnick, characterized the situation as “the government acting at the direction of the president of the United States to put pressure on, to manipulate, to silence and even to shut down institutions of the free word.” Former Late show host David Letterman echoed these concerns during an appearance at the Atlantic Festival 2025, lamenting the rise of “managed media” and stating, “It’s no good. It’s silly. It’s ridiculous.” Letterman added that individuals should not face professional consequences for refusing to “suck up” to an “authoritarian” president.