In a public display of dissent against ABC’s decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live!, demonstrators laid out their signs at a protest staged in front of the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles, California on September 18, 2025. Among the many who have offered their support for Kimmel are numerous noteworthy figures from the LGBTQ+ community. This chain of events was instigated when ABC, an affiliate of Disney, announced an indefinite hiatus of Kimmel’s talk show in light of his remarks concerning Charlie Kirk.
Kimmel, a well-established presenter on American television aged 57, had his comedic program paused following comments he made regarding the fatal incident involving the right-wing commentator. Kimmel expressed that MAGA Republicans sought to gain from Kirk’s demise, a view that was not taken lightly. Kirk, a 31-year-old, lost his life after being shot in the neck during a discussion on America’s gun violence problem at Utah Valley University.
The accused shooter serving as the subject of this tragedy is Tyler Robinson, now facing the ultimate price of the death penalty after an aggravated murder charge. Kimmel brought up Robinson’s supposed political stances during one of his evening monologues on-air, making a case that Trump’s MAGA Republicans were working tirelessly to brand the alleged murderer of Charlie Kirk as being unrelated to their group.
In response to these events, a growing number of figures in the spheres of celebrity, politics, and activism have instigated calls to boycott Disney and all associated entities as a direct response to ABC’s decision. The consensus among them is that the suspension was forced down the pipe by political interests, particularly those in line with the Trump administration. Within the administration, fingers point primarily to Brendan Carr, the current chair of the Federal Communications Commission.
The Guardian has reported a surge in calls for boycotting Disney and its subsidiary ABC since the incident occurred. Nelini Stamp, the Organizing Director of the worker union-related political group Working Families Party, has been proactive in offering a comprehensive resource for boycott maneuvers online. Stamp penned a notable statement arguing that Kimmel wasn’t taken off the air due to his comments but because of FCC’s threats to ABC, reflecting an act of state-censored oppression.
She continues her sentiment by stating, ‘This is a forewarning of authoritarianism; it’s no long a future threat, it’s a living reality. The immediate concern is for Jimmy, but soon enough, it could be us on the line.’ The visibility of this issue has also drawn attention from renowned out lesbian comedian Wanda Sykes, who accused President Trump and his administration of overriding freedom of speech.
Sykes compared Trump’s censorship to his failure in resolving pressing international issues like ending the war in Ukraine or finding a solution to the conflicts in Gaza. Yet, in his term’s first year, he successfully abolished the free speech of a representative of the media. Her statement concluded with a call to prayer and a personal message to Kimmel, expressing her support.
Jimmy Kimmel Live’s removal from ABC’s lineup, deemed an act of ‘state censorship’ and an infringement on free speech, has sparked national and international criticism. Kimmel found himself at the receiving end of strong reactions after his seemingly ‘offensive and insensitive’ remarks on Charlie Kirk’s death. Surprisingly, the move was well-received by the then-president and Kirk supporter, Donald Trump.
The official confirmation for Kimmel’s show being put on hold came from a spokesperson of ABC, also a Disney-owned enterprise. The spokesperson stated that the show would be ‘pre-empted indefinitely’. Kimmel’s comments about Charlie Kirk’s death and Tyler Robinson’s conservative backgrounds were made in his opening monologue, leading to widespread controversy.
Kimmel was critical of the ‘MAGA gang’ for capitalizing on Charlie Kirk’s death and pointedly noted Tyler Robinson’s conservative upbringing. He said, ‘The MAGA gang was working overtime this weekend, trying every trick in the book to not own up to the actions of one of its own and score brownie points in the process. Amid all the deflections and blame games, there was mourning.’
Kimmel also referenced the White House’s decision to fly the flags at half-staff, which was met with criticism. However, Kimmel empathetically mentioned that one could understand how deeply this affected the president. The show cut to a clip of President Trump, who, despite expressing his good feelings, went on to discuss plans about building a new ballroom in the White House. In response, Kimmel quipped that the President had reached the fourth stage of grief: construction.
The host satirically remarked, ‘This is no way for an adult to mourn the loss of a person they regarded as a friend. This is more akin to a toddler grieving a pet goldfish.’ Comedian Bowen Yang, known for his work in Saturday Night Live, backed Kimmel. He denounced the decision to pull the plug on the show and flagged Kimmel’s evening monologue as ‘factual information’.
Robinson’s political leanings have been hotly debated in the aftermath of his arrest following Kirk’s death. Some Republicans, including vice president JD Vance, label him a ‘leftist extremist’. However, opposing arguments supposedly link the suspected shooter to far-right ideologies. At the moment of reporting, fact-checkers Snopes claimed the 22-year-old is neither affiliated with the Republicans nor the Democrats.
This situation has also caught the attention of Alison Brie, a bisexual actor known for her role in Community. She termed Kimmel’s suspension eightover his remarks about the incident as ‘unreal’ and ‘very scary’ in a post. The discussion around this event continues as more prominent figures express their opinions and contribute to the ongoing discourse.
The post Public Outrage Swells Over ABC’s Suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live appeared first on Real News Now.
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