Written by Lisa Murimi
Hollywood figures and major entertainment unions have condemned ABC’s decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live! after the network faced regulatory pressure from the Trump administration over the host’s comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The Walt Disney-owned broadcaster announced Wednesday that it was pulling the show indefinitely, after Nexstar Media Group, which owns 32 ABC affiliates, said it would stop airing the program.
The move followed threats from Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr, who warned broadcasters could face investigations and fines over Kimmel’s remarks.
In his September 10 monologue, Kimmel accused “the MAGA gang” of exploiting Kirk’s killing for political gain and mocked former President Donald Trump’s public mourning.
A 22-year-old suspect has been charged in Kirk’s murder, though investigators have not established a motive.
The suspension has triggered fierce backlash across Hollywood. The Writers Guild of America called the move “an attack on free speech,” while actors’ union SAG-AFTRA warned it set a dangerous precedent of “suppression and retaliation.”
Actor Ben Stiller wrote on social media that “this isn’t right,” and the American Federation of Musicians accused the FCC of “state censorship.”
President Trump, who has repeatedly threatened broadcasters’ licenses, has escalated his clashes with the media in recent months.
His administration has also filed a \$15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times.
ABC declined to elaborate on the decision, while Kimmel himself has not responded publicly. Carr praised Nexstar for rejecting Disney programming that he claimed fell “short of community values.”
Critics say the suspension highlights the growing tension between free expression and government pressure.
“Silencing us impoverishes the whole world,” the Writers Guild warned.
