Hollywood comes to Kimmel's defense after ABC pulls late-night show

18/9/2025 17:14

Hollywood blasted the White House for targeting free speech after ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel's talk on Wednesday under regulatory threats from Donald Trump's administration, rallying behind the late-night comic after his comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.



The Walt Disney-owned broadcaster said it was yanking "Jimmy Kimmel Live" indefinitely after at least one affiliate said it would replace the show on its airwaves and the nation's top communications regulator threatened investigations due to Kimmel's statements.



The late-night host, a frequent Trump critic, had suggested in his monologue on Monday that Kirk's allies were using his death to "score political points".



Unions representing writers and actors said the move amounted to an attack on constitutionally protected free-speech rights, saying ABC should not have caved in the face of U.S. government pressure.



The suspension of Kimmel's show marked the latest action against media figures, academic workers, teachers and corporate employees over their remarks about Kirk following the 31-year-old's assassination a week ago in Utah.