Jay Leno commented on Kimmel’s ceremony at a Walk of Fame ceremony, saying, “You don’t get canceled saying popular things. Usually, it’s the truth that winds up getting, so we’ll see what happens.” He continued with, “It’s a comedian talking. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it. I enjoy Jimmy. I like all the guys. I think they’re really talented. I like jokes, that’s why I watch them.”
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Seth Meyers addressed the Jimmy Kimmel suspension in his segment, A Closer Look. Before getting into the news, Meyer joked, “Completely unrelated, I just wanted to say before we get started here that I’ve always admired and respected Mr. Trump. I’ve always believed he was a visionary, an innovator, a great president, an even better golfer. And if you’ve ever seen me say anything negative about him, that’s just AI.” After recapping President Trump’s trip to the UK and Freedom of Speech as a whole, he directly addressed the matter: “And may I just say it is a privilege and honor to call Jimmy Kimmel my friend in the same way it is a privilege and honor to do this show every night. I wake up every day, I count my blessings that I live in a country that at least purports the value of freedom of speech. And we’re going to keep doing out show the way we’ve always done it — with enthusiasm and integrity … This is a big moment in our democracy and we all must stand up for the principles of expression. There’s a reason Freedom of Speech is in the very first amendment; it stands above all others.”
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While Jon Stewart typically hosts Monday episodes of The Daily Show, he responded to Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension by hosting a Thursday episode and formatting the show in a way he believed Trump would approve. In his satiric approach, Stewart mentioned the president had a “talent-o-meter” which is a “talent quotient, measured mostly by niceness to the president.” If the rating gets too low, “FCC must be notified to threaten the acquisition prospects for billion-dollar mergers of network affiliates […] Or the FCC can just choose to threaten those licenses directly. It’s basic science.” He went on to say, “I don’t know who this… this… Johnny Drimmel Live ABC character is. But the point is, 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 smokescreen to obscure an unprecedented consolidation of power and unitary intimidation, principle-less and coldly antithetical to any experiment in a constitutional republic governance. Some people would say that. Not me, though… I think it’s great.”
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Jimmy Fallon spoke about Jimmy Kimmel during an opening monologue. The comedian started with, “The big story is that Jimmy Kimmel was suspended by ABC after pressure from the FCC, leaving everyone thinking ‘WTF?’ This morning, I woke up to a hundred text messages from my dad saying, ‘I’m sorry they canceled your show.’ […] To be honest with you all, I don’t know what’s going on, and no one does. But I do know Jimmy Kimmel, and he’s a decent, funny and loving guy, and I hope he comes back.” He then took a comedic turn, saying, “A lot of people are worried we won’t keep saying what we want to say or that we’ll be censored, but I’m going to cover the president’s trip to the UK just like I normally would! Here we go!” However, as Fallon went to report the news, a voice over would come over with a compliment as he was about to make a punchline. For example, “President Trump just wrapped up his three day trip to the UK, and he [voiceover] looked incredibly handsome. As always, his tie was [voiceover] exactly the right length. […] and his hair looked [voiceover] better than Conrad’s from ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty.'”
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Stephen Colbert addressed Jimmy Kimmel at the beginning of the show, starting with, “I am your host Stephen Colbert, but tonight, we are all Jimmy Kimmel. […] That is blatant censorship, and it always starts small. You know, like remember in week one of his presidency, Gulf of America […] but with an autocrat, you cannot give an inch. And if ABC thinks, if ABC thinks, if this going to satisfy the regime, they’re woefully naive and clearly never read the children’s book, ‘If You Give a Mouse a Kimmel.’ And to Jimmy, just let me say, I stand with you and your staff 100%. And also you couldn’t let me enjoy this [his Emmy Award] for one week?” He also made shots at FCC chair Brendan Carr calling him, “an individually wrapped hard boiled egg that they sell at the airport.” He also compared the Kimmel clip to “hearing Playboy has a racy new centerfold and it’s just Jimmy Kimmel.” He overall summarized, “This whole thing is the latest and boldest action in a long campaign against media critics.”
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She-Hulk star Tatiana Maslany called for her followers to unsubscribe from Disney+, Hulu and ESPN.
Lily Gladstone showed her support on Instagram, writing, “‘Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us.’ – William O. Douglas, late Supreme Court Justice Don’t back down, Jimmy ❤️ @jimmykimmel @jimmykimmellive.”
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Carrie Coon shared an image of her and Kimmel and wrote, “So much for cancelling cancel culture! If we can’t make jokes, or even apologize, then it’s over. And by the way, government coercion is different from consequences enacted in and by the private sector. (This is authoritarianism.)”
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Damon Lindeloff stood up for Kimmel on Instagram and claimed he would not work with ABC or Disney until the suspension was lifted, writing, “I first heard Jimmy Kimmel on Kevin & Bean shortly after I moved to L.A. in my twenties. I was a fan of his goofy honest wit from the jump and I never imagined we would one day be friends. I met him for the first time backstage at the ABC upfronts in 2004… he had just seen The Lost pilot and dug it. He also said, ‘I hope you guys know what you’re doing.’ In the twenty years since, I’ve gotten to know Jimmy and if you know Jimmy, you know his incredible wife and head writer, Molly, who is not just his better half but his better three quarters. You also know he is caring and empathic and grateful. You know he loves his country. You know he appreciates a good roast and he can take as good as he gives. You know he supported his crew through multiple strikes and you know he is generous and philanthropic and most of all, you know that he is kind. I was shocked, saddened and infuriated by yesterday’s suspension and look forward to it being lifted soon. If it isn’t, I can’t in good conscience work for the company that imposed it. If you’re about to fire up in my comments, just ask yourself if you know the difference between hate speech and a joke. I think you still do. And Jimmy? You’ve ALWAYS known what you were doing. Love you and support you. D”
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David Letterman made his thoughts known at The Atlantic Festival. He said, “It’s ridiculous. You can’t go around firing somebody because you’re fearful or trying to suck up to an authoritarian criminal administration in the Oval Office, that’s just not how this works.” He also shared that he’s been in communication with Kimmel, sharing, “He’s sitting up in bed taking nourishment, he’s going to be fine.” Letterman also reflected on his career, explaining, “The point is beating up on these people, rightly or wrongly, accurately or perhaps inaccurately in the name of comedy, not once were we squeezed by anyone from any governmental agency, let alone the dreaded FCC.” He also took a shot at the FFC, exclaiming, “Who is hiring these goons? Mario Puzo?”
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While at the HIM premiere, Marlon Wayans was asked about Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension. He first imitated Childish Gambino’s This is America before explaining, “You know what we’re seeing is not something we — me, myself, as a Black man — hasn’t seen before. I just think it’s a shame, and I think that every last, single American loses because of this. […] Guys and artist and voices like Jimmy Kimmel, we have to be courageous. And it’s a new beginning. You can’t stop the dunk. You just made create a new lane, that’s all.”
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“I stand with @jimmykimmellive. I stand for Free Speech. I stand for Democracy. SHAME SHAME SHAME @ABC.” – Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Instagram
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Wanda Sykes, who was scheduled to appear on Jimmy Kimmel this week, shared an Instagram reel. She stared into the camera, stating, “So I’m in a full face of makeup because I was supposed to go over and have a chat with my friend, Jimmy Kimmel on his show. But as you have heard by now, the Jimmy Kimmel show has been pulled indefinitely, abruptly because of complaints from the Trump administration. So 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. Hey, for those of you who pray, now’s the time to do it. Love you, Jimmy.”
While on TODAY, Jason Bateman was asked about Kimmel’s suspension and responded with, “It’s troubling to say the least, and we all really have to take a moment and figure out how we feel about this type of thing, especially you know, people doing what you do. I’m sure there’s going to be some sort of collective move to respond to this, but I’m not smart enough or powerful enough to be the one to do it, but I imagine there’s plenty of conversations going on to do something because you just can’t stand by and let stuff like that go on […] like you know, Jimmy getting his show pulled for freedom of speech.”
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Mike Birbiglia via Instagram
Kathy Griffin via Instagram
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“I am horrified at the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel Live. What Jimmy said was FREE speech, not hate speech. People seem to only want to protect free speech when it suits THEIR agenda. Though I didn’t agree at ALL with Charlie Kirk; his shooting death sickened me; and should have sickened any decent human being. What is happening to our country?” – Jean Smart
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Don Lemon shared on Threads, “This is the same party that complains everything is too woke, that comedians can’t say anything anymore, that they’re killing comedy. But the folks who complain about killing comedy are the ones killing comedy. What does that tell you? They don’t believe in anything they’re saying. They have no core. This is some scary s–t.” In his caption he added that “this should send a chill down everyone’s spine in America.”
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Patton Swalt shared a message on Instagram. In a casual video, he said, “”Hi Jimmy, Hi Stephen, Hi every news anchor that’s been fired, every reporter that’s probably going to get fired. I don’t know if this will be anything, but sometimes adding to the wall of voices that’s saying we see what’s happening, I know can help in times like this. So, we see what’s happening. I think everybody see what’s happening, except the people that are benefitting from this or pretending like that they don’t see what’s happening. I’m going to try to make this coherent and quick, and it’s going to be neither. I was thinking so, Isaac Asimov — huh, already, we are off on a tangent. Isaac Asimov said there’s only three science fiction plots — what if, if only, and if this goes on — and unfortunately, we are at the dark end of if this goes on. That line when we crossed it, we were all supposed to rise up, that’s way. way behind us, so, we can’t just stand up anymore. We’ve got to roar up, screaming and link arms — all of us. This thing is coming for all of us. This is an ancient evil that is shooting its shot right now. It sees its window, and its trying again. It’s always going to try again. We’re always going to have to fight it. This is our time to fight it. And please, I can already see in the comments, imagine in the comments, ‘oh, you’re this west coast elite.’ I’m in the airport right now, I am traveling to Austin today. I was in Raleigh next week. I’ll be in Ohio next month […] I love this country, and I love meeting all the people here, and I meet people every day, every weekend doing comedy and I know, I know, I know this is not what they voted for. […] This is an awesome country, and we are handing it over to frightened short-sighted — I don’t even know what these people are.”
S.E. Cupp talked about her time on the show on Instagram, writing, “This picture didn’t happen overnight or out of thin air. Jimmy and I didn’t know each other and had been engaged in a somewhat contentious war of words previously from our respective television perches. Instead of continuing the hostilities, Jimmy invited me on his show. He didn’t have to, and he could have used that as an opportunity to dress me down or put me on the spot or turn his audience against me. Instead, we talked like adults, he treated me with total respect, he elevated my interests and perspective, and we laughed a lot. It broke down a barrier instead of persisting one. It was a generous and kind overture that I never forgot. And in that moment we saw each other as people, as parents, as equal contributors to a national conversation. This should be the model. Invite MORE speech, invite MORE people with whom you disagree, find areas of common ground. You can do all of this while standing up for the people and things you support. It doesn’t have to be all or none, and it shouldn’t be. Free speech is our American gift and right and privilege. Jimmy celebrated it. This is a sad and scary day, among so many sad and scary days. I appreciate you @jimmykimmel 💔🎙️👊🏻.”
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“It’s happening. Jimmy Kimmel has been muzzled and taken off the air by his network ABC who are buckling to and trying to appease the Nextstar media conglomerate who have a lot of affiliates and they threatened to preempt him at the suggestion of the FCC chair. This is government censorship. This is the Trump administration coming after people who speak out against him. This is the end of it. If you have any concern or belief in real freedom or the Constitution and free speech, this is it. This is the deciding moment. This is what authoritarianism looks like, right now in this country. It’s happening. So if you are a free speech warrior, or you really talk the talk about protecting free speech…this isn’t about saying the R word or the T word or any of that. This is government censorship. This isn;t f—- Twitter. […] This is the United States government silencing voices they disagree with. FCC Chair Carr put this out. This is his directive. This is the US Government. Look if they can come for Kimmel, they can come for anybody. This is happening. It’s time to act.” – Marc Maron on Instagram
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Amy Landecker via Instagram
“I stand with the #FirstAmendment so I stand with #JimmyKimmel.” – Piper Perabo
Margaret Cho commented, “What the actual f” on Variety’s Instagram post that covered the suspension.
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Lukas Gage commented, “Growww uppp,” under Variety’s Instagram post about the suspension.
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Former Bachelor Colton Underwood commented, “This can’t be coming from the party that made its entire identity free speech and no more cancel culture,” on Variety’s Instagram post about the suspension.
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Giacomo Gianniotti commented, “I thought they like ‘free speech,” under Variety’s Instagram post about the coverage.
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Tommy Dorfman commented, “We’re cooked,” under Variety’s Instagram post about the suspension.
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Jonathan Van Ness commented, “Wow,” under Variety’s Instagram post about the suspension.
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Mayim Bialik commented, “NOT GOOD,” under Variety’s Instagram post about the suspension.
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