Former US President Barack Obama has criticised the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! after its host made controversial remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed last week.
Obama reacts
Taking to his handle, Obama tweeted, “After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like.”
Trump blames bad ratings
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, who is currently in the UK, dismissed the free speech debate, attributing the show’s removal to its declining viewership. “Jimmy Kimmel was fired ’cause he had bad ratings, more than anything else. And he said a horrible thing about a great gentleman known as Charlie Kirk,” Trump said to reporters gathered at the press conference. He went on to add, “Jimmy Kimmel is not a talented person, they had bad ratings and they should’ve fired him a long time ago. You can call that free speech or not, he was fired for lack of talent.”
About the show’s suspension
The American Broadcasting Company (ABC), announced Wednesday that it had suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! “indefinitely.” The move followed backlash over Kimmel’s remarks about Kirk.In addition, Nexstar Media Group, Inc. said in a statement that its owned and partner television stations affiliated with ABC will preempt the late-night talk show “for the foreseeable future,” beginning with Wednesday night’s episode.There was no immediate comment from Kimmel, whose contract is up in May 2026.
How Hollywood celebs reacted to the news
Since the news of the show’s suspension broke, comedian Wanda Sykes, said in a statement, “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.”Megyn Kelly, aso reacted to the news saying, “I’m not sure who needs to hear this but Jimmy Kimmel got on the air and falsely stated as a fact that Charlie Kirk’s killer was MAGA, smearing an entire movement and Trump in particular with a vile disgusting lie — and at a time when the threat against those on the right is at an all-time high.”Jean Smart also commented saying, “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?”
