Trump asserts that Jimmy Kimmel's talk show lost its spot due to poor ratings, further demeaning the host by stating he's devoid of genuine talent.
In a recent turn of events, the late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been removed from ABC's programming indefinitely. The decision comes following Jimmy Kimmel's critical remarks about right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed at Utah Valley University campus on September 10.
The suspension of the show has sparked a wave of controversy, with several high-profile figures weighing in on the matter. Former US President Barack Obama criticised the move, stating it is a form of government website coercion that threatens free people's speech. Obama's sentiments were echoed by Marc Maron, who accused the Trump administration of censorship and labelled the incident a sign of authoritarianism.
The controversy began when Kimmel claimed that all signs point to Kirk's shooter being a Trump supporter. This assertion did not sit well with Donald Trump, who commented on the incident during a news conference in the UK, stating that Kimmel was fired due to bad ratings and lack of talent. However, no source indicates that Marc Maron announced the suspension or pause of the Jimmy Kimmel Show on ABC; instead, ABC itself has indefinitely suspended the show due to Jimmy Kimmel's critical remarks about Kirk.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Brendan Carr threatened immediate action against Kimmel, ABC, and Disney for Kimmel's comments. This prompted Nexstar, an affiliate of ABC, to pre-empt Jimmy Kimmel Live! episodes, leading to the ABC network's decision to pull the show indefinitely.
The unions, including the American Federation of Musicians, Directors Guild of America, IATSE, and Sag Aftra, have condemned ABC's decision. They claim that the indefinite removal of Jimmy Kimmel Live is a disturbing trend of increasing interference in creative expression. The unions also called on media companies to start standing up rather than capitulating to government pressure, arguing that such political pressure on broadcasters and artists chills free people's speech and threatens the livelihoods of thousands of working Americans.
Despite the controversy, Jimmy Kimmel has yet to publicly comment on the show's suspension. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he was set to address the matter on Wednesday night's show, but as of now, no new episode has aired. Trump, on the other hand, celebrated the show's axe on his platform Truth Social.
As the situation continues to unfold, the implications of this incident for free people's speech and creative expression in the media industry remain a topic of heated debate.
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