Over 400 Hollywood Stars Back Jimmy Kimmel Against ABC Suspension Over Free Speech

Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show was indefinitely suspended by ABC following controversial comments he made about the fatal shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk and the alleged assassin Tyler Robinson. This suspension occurred after pressure from FCC Chair Brendan Carr, who threatened to penalize ABC and its parent company Disney. In response, over 400 Hollywood celebrities, including Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, and Robert De Niro, signed an open letter organized by the American Civil Liberties Union defending Kimmel's constitutional right to free speech. The letter criticizes government threats against private companies and artists as a dangerous infringement on freedom of expression, describing the suspension as a "dark moment for freedom of speech" in the nation. The signatories emphasize that silencing any voice is a threat to all and urge Americans to unite in defense of free speech regardless of political affiliation. President Donald Trump publicly supported ABC's suspension of Kimmel, calling it a firing for lack of talent.