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The late night host Jimmy Kimmel was suspended from ABC after making comments about Charlie Kirk last week. Upon his return this Tuesday, the comedian said that silencing free speech was ‘anti American.’
Jimmy Kimmel has returned to air after being suspended from ABC last week following comments he made regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
In an emotional opening monologue, Kimmel said that government threats to silence comedians were ‘anti American.’ His suspension caused widespread debate as to the nature of free speech in America, and follows on from the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert two months ago.
According to Kimmel, Trump and his government seemed eager to have his show permanently taken off air. Meanwhile, hundreds of Hollywood names signed an open letter condemning the suspension, with free speech advocates encouraging boycotts and protests against both ABC and Disney.
There has been nervousness in the air regarding the fate of Kimmel’s show, as it could set a precedent for media censorship in the US. If comedians and celebrities feel uncomfortable with criticising Trump or right-wing issues due to potential government backlash, it could erode free speech and the public market of ideas.
As part of his monologue, Kimmel addressed those who supported the airing of the show regardless of personal views. ‘I want to thank the people who don’t support my show and what I believe, but support my right to share those beliefs anyway,’ he said.
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As the BBC mentions, Kimmel came short of any actual apology, but did acknowledge that his comments could have understandably caused upset. He described his jokes last week as ‘ill-timed or unclear or maybe both’, and added that he recognised why some viewers might have been offended.
‘It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,’ stated Kimmel. He also sent a message of love to Kirk’s family on his Instagram before being temporarily suspended.
While Kimmel is now back on the air, some local TV stations in the US are reportedly refusing to schedule the show. Nexstar and Sinclair, two companies that manage multiple stations affiliated with ABC, will continue to replace the programme with other content for the time being.
