Trump's authoritarian rule gets pummeled by Stephen Colbert in staunch support of Kimmel, while Jimmy Fallon finally speaks out
In a series of unexpected developments, ABC News has suspended Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show indefinitely, following his controversial remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The decision was reportedly made after an emergency meeting by ABC News executives. Stephen Colbert, host of The Late Show, dedicated his Thursday monologue to free speech, expressing solidarity with Kimmel's team at ABC News. Colbert declared, "Tonight, we are all Jimmy Kimmel."
The controversy erupted after Kimmel incorrectly claimed that Tyler Robinson, a co-founder of the political nonprofit Turning Point USA, was a right-wing MAGA member. Investigators have since stated that Robinson, 22, became radicalized with far-left ideologies and was dating his transgender roommate.
The FCC chair, Brendan Carr, has criticized Jimmy Kimmel's remarks, suggesting potential actions against the broadcaster ABC News. Many interpreted Carr's comments as a threat to revoke the station's license. Carr, who could be investigated by the FCC, has previously accused networks of subsidizing late-night talk shows and expects them to broadly serve the public interests.
President Trump praised ABC News for firing Kimmel and called for executives at NBC to also oust Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers. Fallon addressed the controversy during a taping of The Tonight Show on Thursday, revealing that he had texted Kimmel after hearing the shocking news of Kimmel's show being suspended.
Nexstar Communications Group has announced it will no longer air Jimmy Kimmel Live! on its 23 ABC News-affiliated stations. Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar's broadcasting division, stated that Kimmel's comments about Kirk's death were offensive and insensitive.
Colbert called Kimmel's ouster at the taping for his show "blatant censorship." Colbert, who was fired from CBS in July after criticizing CBS' parent company, Paramount, for settling a lawsuit with President Trump for $16 million amid a merger between the company and Skydance, blasted President Trump as an 'autocrat' and said "you cannot give [him] an inch."
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how this controversy will impact the future of late-night television and the boundaries of free speech in the media.
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