In the ongoing conflict over free speech, who might be the next target, excluding Gutfeld?
In a surprising turn of events, ABC has indefinitely pulled 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' following the host's comments about the suspect in the killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. This decision came hours after Brendan Carr, the Trump-nominated chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), targeted Kimmel on a right-wing podcast and suggested the FCC could take action against ABC.
Carr stated that Kimmel's comments were part of a 'concerted effort to lie to the American people.' The alleged lies by Kimmel involved suggesting that MAGA was trying to characterize the suspect as 'anything other than one of them.'
Meanwhile, 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' topped the 11:35 p.m. hour with an average of 2.417 million viewers in the second quarter of 2025. NBC's 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon' finished third with an average of 1.188 million viewers, while 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' came in second with an average of 1.772 million viewers.
Interestingly, the FCC did not apply the same standards to Gutfeld's outburst as they did to Kimmel's comments. Greg Gutfeld, a conservative host on Fox News, cursed on air, demeaned the loss of life from another assassination, and cited incorrect information during a show. However, no actions have been taken against Gutfeld by the FCC.
The U.S. Department of Justice suggests that the suspect's right-wing political views played a role in the attacks. Vance Boelter, the alleged killer of the Hortmans, has not been publicly evidenced to have known the couple.
In a separate development, Trump filed a $15-billion defamation lawsuit against the New York Times and four of its reporters on Monday. The lawsuit stems from articles published by the newspaper regarding Trump's finances and tax returns.
The merger between Paramount and Skydance Media was approved a few weeks after CBS agreed to pay $16 million to settle Trump's lawsuit against '60 Minutes.' CBS announced it would not be renewing 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,' with the timing suggesting the network was pandering to Trump for merger approval.
However, some argue that the true loser in this situation is freedom of speech. Critics argue that the FCC's actions against Kimmel set a dangerous precedent for censorship and limit the ability of late-night hosts to express their opinions.
The comments made by Jimmy Kimmel in his Monday night monologue were cited as inaccurate by some. Kimmel has not yet issued a statement regarding the suspension of his show or the allegations against him.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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