Responses erupt as ABC temporarily halts Jimmy Kimmel's television program
In a dramatic turn of events, Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been suspended following comments made by the host regarding the killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. The suspension was initially announced by the ABC network, a subsidiary of the Disney company.
The decision sparked a wave of reactions across the media landscape. President Donald Trump, in a social media post, hailed the suspension as "Great News for America." Contrarily, former President Barack Obama criticised the current administration's actions, stating they were "precisely the kind of government coercion that the First Amendment was designed to prevent."
Ken Martin, Democratic National Committee chairman, expressed concern over the state under Donald Trump, stating that it has a chilling record of restricting speech, extorting private companies, and dropping the full weight of the government censorship hammer on free people's rights.
The suspension received criticism from various quarters. Megyn Kelly, conservative podcaster, criticised Jimmy Kimmel for falsely stating that Kirk's killer was MAGA. Actors like Jean Smart and Wanda Sykes expressed horror at the cancellation and questioned the protection of free speech.
Senator Adam Schiff, who has been a vocal critic of the administration's attacks on the free press, did not provide a comment for this article. However, he has previously criticised the administration for the most blatant attacks on the free press in American history.
The Federal Communications Commission's chairman, Brendan Carr, called Kimmel's comments "truly sick" and said his agency had a strong case for holding Kimmel, ABC, and network parent Walt Disney Co accountable for spreading misinformation. Local broadcasters, according to Carr, have an obligation to serve the public interest and push back on Disney programming that they determine falls short of community values.
Stephen Colbert, host of The Late Show, made an explicit response to Trump following the cancellation of his show. Trey Parker, co-creator of South Park, apologised for a scene depicting Trump and Satan on the show.
The suspension was later reversed after public and celebrity backlash, with ABC stating the decision followed intensive discussions with Kimmel. Nexstar Communications Group announced plans to pull the program from its 23 ABC affiliates starting Thursday. Comedians like Mike Birbiglia called for other comedians to speak out against the pulling of Kimmel's show.
Mark R Levin, conservative radio host and podcaster, called Jimmy Kimmel a pathetic hate monger. The network stated that Jimmy Kimmel Live! does not reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of local communities.
As the dust settles, the incident serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between free people's rights and responsibility in the media landscape.
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