Thousands pay tribute at Charlie Kirk vigil amid uproar over Jimmy Kimmel suspension: Live updates

EntertainmentPolitics
20 Sep 2025 • 10:14 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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Thousands paid tribute, both in person and online, to conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University’s “Vigil for Unity” Friday amid uproar over the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show.

“My prayer is tonight, as we leave, we carry forward a renewed commitment to peace to respect and to unity,” Caleb Chilcutt, a UVU student and chapter member of Kirk’s Turning Point USA organization, said at the vigil. A candlelight tribute followed Friday night.

Also Friday, Kimmel broke his silence since having his late night talk show pulled by network ABC following comments he made about the fatal shooting of Kirk at UVU last week.

“Wow, it’s strange times out here,” Kimmel wrote in a text responding to his friend asking how he was. “I’m being followed by a helicopter,” he added.

The network confirmed that Kimmel’s show would be suspended “indefinitely” after the comedian said the “MAGA gang” was trying to “score political points” from Kirk’s assassination during his Monday monologue.

Fellow late night show hosts, including David Letterman, Jay Leno, Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert, whose show is being canceled next year, are among the celebrities who have also spoken out in support of Kimmel.

It comes ahead of Kirk’s funeral, which is scheduled to take place Sunday in Glendale, Arizona. Law enforcement is currently monitoring several “threats” prior to the event due to the attendance of high-profile individuals, including Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other senior politicians.

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Key points

  • ABC suspends Jimmy Kimmel’s show following host’s comments about Charlie Kirk shooting
  • Half of Americans disapprove of decision to axe Kimmel show
  • Disney execs and Kimmel haggled over response to FCC Charlie Kirk complaint
  • Law enforcement 'tracking threats' against Trump, Vance and Kirk family ahead of funeral
  • Turning Point member calls for 'peace' and 'unity' at Charlie Kirk vigil

Recap: Jimmy Kimmel show suspension

04:45

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Rachel Dobkin

  • ABC announced Wednesday it would suspend Jimmy Kimmel’s show “indefinitely.”
  • The decision came after Federal Communications Commission Brendan Carr put pressure on broadcasters to “take action on Kimmel” after the comedian made comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
  • "This is a very, very serious issue right now for Disney. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to take action on Kimmel or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead,” Carr told conservative podcaster Benny Johnson.
  • Kimmel said on his show Monday night: “We had some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and with everything they can to score political points from it.”
  • MAGA figures celebrated Kimmel’s show being pulled, with President Donald Trump saying it was “great news for America.”
  • Others have criticized ABC’s decision as a violation of free speech protections.

Adam Schiff says 'attack on Jimmy Kimmel' is out of 'dictator's playbook'

07:00

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Rachel Dobkin

Senator Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, criticized ABC’s decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel’s late show.

“The attack on Jimmy Kimmel is yet another page in the dictator's playbook,” he wrote on X Friday. “When will my more of my Republicans colleagues recognize that traveling down this road does not end well for any of us?”

The decision to pause Kimmel’s show “indefinitely” comes after the comedian made comments about the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and ally to President Donald Trump.

Kimmel has been critical of Trump, and critics have noticed the show’s suspension came after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr put pressure on broadcasters to “take action on Kimmel.”

Lara Trump said if Donald wanted to take critics off the air there would 'only be a handful' of people left on TV

06:30

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Rachel Dobkin

Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, told Fox News Thursday night if the president wanted to take his critics off the air, there would “only be a handful” of people left on TV.

Lara’s comments come after Trump suggested revoking FCC licenses from networks that largely air negative coverage of him.

Democrat explains her decision to vote for Charlie Kirk resolution

06:00

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Rachel Dobkin

Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Washington Democrat, explained why she voted in favor of a resolution honoring the slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

“Charlie Kirk was a human being. He was a human being with a family who loved him,” the congresswoman said Friday. “We do not need to agree with the beliefs of everyone around us, but we do need to have the courage to see clearly how our hard heartedness, callousness, or indifference towards the humanity of others around us is tearing the country apart.”

The House passed the resolution Friday with 215 Republicans and 95 Democrats backing it.

Shots fired at ABC affiliate building

05:45

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Rachel Dobkin

Shots were fired at a building housing an ABC affiliate in Sacramento, California, Friday afternoon, police say.

“We haven't had a lot of attacks on our media partners, and we'd like to keep it that way," Anthony Gamble, a public information officer for the Sacramento Police Department, told CBS Sacramento.

"This is unacceptable behavior. And so you know, to those that may have been responsible for this, and I hope you see this, we're not going to stop looking for you. This is unacceptable behavior. It's not going to be tolerated in Sacramento."

Fox News host bashes 'liberal networks' for showing more concern about Jimmy Kimmel than Charlie Kirk

05:30

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Rachel Dobkin

Fox News’ Kayleigh McEnany has bashed “liberal networks” for showing more concern about Jimmy Kimmel’s show being suspended than about the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

“For all the concern about the 'the First Amendment, the First Amendment,'” McEnany told colleague Jesse Watters Friday night. “What about all the amendments that Charlie Kirk lost? Because Charlie Kirk has no amendments right now. None."

In pictures: People protest outside of Disneyland

05:15

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Rachel Dobkin

People protested outside of Disneyland in Anaheim, California, on Friday after Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show was suspended. Here are some photos:

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Trump defends FCC chair amid backlash

05:00

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Rachel Dobkin

President Donald Trump defended Federal Communications Chairman Brendan Carr Friday after he received backlash over the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show.

Trump called Carr “an incredible American patriot with courage.”

Before ABC announced its decision to suspend Kimmel’s show, Carr put pressure on broadcasters to “take action” against Kimmel after comments he made in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for Carr to resign, and Republican Senator Ted Cruz compared him to a “mafioso.”

Fox News host warns 'no voice is safe' after Jimmy Kimmel show suspension

04:30

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Rachel Dobkin

Fox News’ Jessica Tarlov has warned “no voice is safe” after ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show following comments the comedian made about Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

“This is how the First Amendment dies—when tragedy is weaponized to justify censorship. Regulatory threats can’t be the answer to speech we don’t like. If we let this stand, no voice is safe,” she said.

Late night legend Conan O’Brien breaks silence on Jimmy Kimmel with rare political statement

04:00

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Rachel Dobkin

Late-night TV legend Conan O'Brien has broken his usual silence on politics to speak out in defense of Jimmy Kimmel after his show was suspended following comments he made in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

"The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel and the promise to silence other late night hosts for criticizing the administration should disturb everyone on the right, left, and center. It’s wrong and anyone with a conscience knows it’s wrong," the veteran talk show host said on X Friday.

Read more from Io Dodds:

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In pictures: Candlelight vigil held at UVU for Charlie Kirk

03:30

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Rachel Dobkin

A candlelight vigil was held at Utah Valley University Friday night for the slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Kirk was fatally shot at an event on UVU’s campus last week. Here are some photos from the vigil:

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Trump slams David Letterman after comedian defends Jimmy Kimmel

03:00

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Rachel Dobkin

President Donald Trump has slammed David Letterman as “very highly overrated” after the comedian defended late night host Jimmy Kimmel.

“Whatever happened to the very highly overrated David Letterman, whose ratings were never very good, either. He looks like hell, but at least he knew when to quit. LOSER!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social Friday night.

The president’s retort came after Lettermen, a former late night host himself, called the suspension of Kimmel’s ABC show ridiculous.

“You can’t go around firing somebody because you’re fearful or trying to suck up to an authoritarian criminal administration in the Oval Office. That’s just not how this works,” Letterman said at The Atlantic Festival Thursday..

Trump demands TV networks get licenses canceled over ‘97% bad’ coverage of him after ABC caves to FCC on Kimmel

02:30

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Rachel Dobkin

President Donald Trump on Friday said the nation’s television networks should have their broadcast licenses canceled because coverage of him is overwhelmingly negative despite his victory in last year’s presidential election.

Speaking in the Oval Office during a question-and-answer session with reporters, Trump was asked to defend his claim to be a champion of free speech in the wake of Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr’s demand that ABC affiliate stations refuse to carry Jimmy Kimmel’s late night comedy show after one of the comedian’s monologues angered Republican activists.

The network announced earlier this week that Kimmel’s show would be suspended indefinitely after two large station owners, Nexstar and Sinclair, announced that they would pre-empt the program. The two television conglomerates are attempting to merge and Carr had implied that he could block the merger unless Kimmel was benched.

Pressed on whether he still believes in the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of freedom of speech, Trump said he is a “very strong person for free speech” but he pivoted to complaining about how news coverage and other publicity on television did not become more sycophantic towards him out of respect for his win in last year’s election.

Read more from Andrew Feinberg:

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Jimmy Kimmel and Disney trying to negotiate show's return: report

01:30

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Rachel Dobkin

Jimmy Kimmel and Disney are working toward reaching a deal to bring back his late night show, Variety reported, citing three people with knowledge of the matter.

ABC suspended Kimmel’s show “indefinitely” after the comedian made comments about the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

Variety’s sources said, however, there is no guarantee that Kimmel and Disney will come to a compromise.

Trump says Democrats have to 'start respecting our Democracy' after voting against Charlie Kirk resolution

01:30

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Rachel Dobkin

President Donald Trump says Democrats have to “start respecting our Democracy” after voting against a resolution honoring the slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

“Just today the House Democrats voted against condemning the political assassination of Charlie Kirk,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Friday. “Democrats must start respecting our Democracy, and the Will of the Voters!”

A total of 95 Democrats joined the 215 Republicans who supported the resolution, while 58 Democrats opposed it, 38 voted “present” and 22 did not vote.

In Pictures: Writers Guild holds protest against Jimmy Kimmel suspension

01:00

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Rachel Dobkin

The Writers Guild of America East organized a protest outside ABC Studios in Manhattan on Friday, demanding the network lift its suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show. Here are some pictures from the protest:

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In a statement following ABC’s decision to pull Kimmel’s show “indefinitely,” the Writers Guild said, “As a Guild, we stand united in opposition to anyone who uses their power and influence to silence the voices of writers, or anyone who speaks in dissent. If free speech applied only to ideas we like, we needn't have bothered to write it into the Constitution. “

Charlie Sheen dodges question about Jimmy Kimmel in Newsmax interview

Saturday 20 September 2025 00:34

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Rachel Dobkin

Actor Charlie Sheen dodged a question about the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show in an interview with Newsmax.

“It’s tough because you want to support freedom of speech,” Sheen said on the right-wing network. “And then Benny Johnson was talking about it’s not cancel culture, it’s consequence culture.”

Sheen appeared to try to appease both sides of a free speech argument that has risen out of ABC’s decision to suspend Kimmel’s show “indefinately” following comments the comedian made in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

Federal Communications Chairman Brendan Carr put pressure on broadcasters to “take action on Kimmel” in an interview with Johnson, a conservative podcaster, Wednesday before ABC pulled his show.

In pictures: People pay respects to Charlie Kirk outside UVU vigil

Saturday 20 September 2025 00:00

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Rachel Dobkin

People paid their respects to Charlie Kirk outside a vigil on Friday for the slain conservative activist held by Utah Valley University, where Kirk was fatally shot last week. Here are some pictures:

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Watch: Trump slams 'terrible' reporter after asking question about free speech

Friday 19 September 2025 23:30

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Rachel Dobkin

President Donald Trump hit back at ABC’s Jonathan Karl, calling him a “terrible” reporter after he asked if free speech includes “people who are harshly critical of you?”

Turning Point member calls for 'peace' and 'unity' at Charlie Kirk vigil

Friday 19 September 2025 23:28

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Rachel Dobkin

A member of Charlie Kirk’s youth group, Turning Point USA, has called for “peace” and “unity” at a vigil for the slain conservative activist held by Utah Valley University Friday.

“My prayer is tonight, as we leave, we carry forward a renewed commitment to peace to respect and to unity because those values are what will help us move forward together,” Caleb Chilcutt, a UVU student and chapter member of Turning Point USA, said.

The vigil is expected to draw thousands and, according to the university, has “heavy” security measures in place. Kirk was fatally shot on the UVU campus last week.

UVU holds vigil with 'heavy security'

Friday 19 September 2025 23:00

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Rachel Dobkin

Utah Valley University is holding a vigil with “heavy security” after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot at a campus event last week.

UVU associate vice president Ellen Treanor said in a statement shared by KSL-TV there would be a “heavy security force” inside and outside the UCCU Center where the vigil is being held.

“Special measures include a no-bag policy, metal detectors, and controlled entry points at the arena,” Treanor said.

Bernie Sanders gives lesson on what he believes 'freedom' means

Friday 19 September 2025 22:30

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Rachel Dobkin

Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont, shared a video on X Friday of himself explaining what he believes “freedom” means.

“Freedom is not just saying nice things or agreeing with those in power. Freedom is not just flattering the president of the United States and telling them how great he is,” Sanders said.

He continued: “Freedom is the right to express your point of view, no matter what that may be, without government interference.”

Trump says he's 'very strong' for free speech — and then doubles down on bad coverage of him being 'illegal'

Friday 19 September 2025 22:19

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Rachel Dobkin

President Donald Trump insisted Friday he is a “very strong person for free speech,” and then he proceeded to double down on his previous statements that bad coverage of him is “illegal.”

“ They'll take a great story and they'll make it bad. See, I think that's really illegal,” he told reporters from the Oval Office, calling major networks, “members of the Democrat National Committee.”

On Thursday, Trump told reporters on Air Force One all the networks’ evening shows do is “hit on Trump,” adding, that their FCC license means “they’re not allowed to do that.”

Full story: AOC rips Charlie Kirk as ‘ignorant’ and ABC over Kimmel as House passes tribute with 95 Democrats voting ‘yes’

Friday 19 September 2025 22:00

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Rachel Dobkin

The House of Representatives on Friday passed a non-binding resolution to honor the conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was slain by an assassin at a Utah college campus last week.

The measure saw 95 Democrats join the 215 Republicans who supported the resolution, while 58 Democrats opposed it, 38 voted “present” and 22 did not vote. The resolution passed 310-58 and commemorates Kirk, just over a week after he was killed at Utah Valley University in Orem.

All of House Democratic leadership — including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar — voted in favor of the resolution, which honors Kirk’s life and condemns his killing, calling him one of the “most prominent voices in America, engaging in respectful, civil discourse across college campuses, media platforms, and national forums.”

The resolution also condemns the shooting, commends law enforcement, honors Kirk’s life and calls upon Americans to “recommit to respectful debate, uphold American values, and respect one another as fellow Americans.”

But many Democrats expressed their reservations about honoring Kirk, given his past comments about race, LGBTQ+ people and Black women. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) condemned how Kirk had previously called the Civil Rights Act of 1964 a “mistake,” and said Jewish people controlled colleges, Hollywood and nonprofits.

Read more from Eric Garcia:

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Liz Cheney cities Supreme Court ruling in post bashing FCC chair

Friday 19 September 2025 21:30

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Rachel Dobkin

Former Congresswoman Liz Cheney cited a Supreme Court ruling, stating the feds cannot “coerce” private companies in an X post bashing Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr.

“Hey Brendan ‘we can do this the easy way or the hard way’ Carr: Last year in National Rifle Association v. Vullo, the Supreme Court unanimously reaffirmed this fundamental principle of our constitutional republic: ‘Government officials cannot attempt to coerce private parties in order to punish or suppress views that the government disfavors.’

“This doesn't just constrain Democrats. It applies to all officeholders, including you. You took an oath to the Constitution not to Donald Trump,” Cheney, a fervent critic of the president, wrote on Friday.

Carr had put pressure on broadcasters to “take action” against comedian Jimmy Kimmel after comments he made in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

"This is a very, very serious issue right now for Disney. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to take action on Kimmel or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead,” Carr told conservative podcaster Benny Johnson Wednesday.

Later that day, ABC suspended Kimmel’s show “indefinitely.”

Fox News says Charlie Kirk funeral has rating of 'highest national significance'

Friday 19 September 2025 21:05

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Rachel Dobkin

Fox News National Correspondent Jeff Paul has said Charlie Kirk’s funeral has a Homeland Security rating of the “highest national significance.”

Paul said the Homeland Security Department told Fox News the funeral on Sunday “is being designated as a Special Event assessment rating Level One. This is reserved for the highest national significance.”

Here is a full list of high-profile attendees delivering remarks at the service:

  • Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk
  • President Donald Trump
  • Vice President J.D. Vance
  • White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles
  • White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio
  • Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
  • Secretary of War Pete Hegseth
  • Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard
  • Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr.
  • Conservative pundit Tucker Carlson
  • Incoming U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor

CNN analyst who was once 'canceled' says Kimmel's return is 'exceptionally unlikely'

Friday 19 September 2025 20:50

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Rachel Dobkin

CNN Chief Media Analyst Brian Stelter, who got “canceled” from his network and returned, says Jimmy Kimmel's return to ABC is “exceptionally unlikely.”

Speaking to CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Thursday night, Stelter said, “In television, hosts and producers love a plot twist. It would be one hell of a plot twist to have Kimmel return, but I think it is an exceptionally unlikely scenario.”

“Look, take it from me Kaitlan, I’ve been canceled before on television. Sometimes being canceled is the best thing that could ever happen to a TV host,” Stelter said, per Mediaite. “I think Kimmel might be looking around and realizing he has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity here, a chance to reinvent himself, but you also have to consider the political stakes and the political climate.”

Stelter’s CNN show, “Reliable Sources,” was canceled in 2022, but he returned as an analyst for the network last year.

Ted Cruz compare FCC boss to 'mafioso' over Kimmel suspension

Friday 19 September 2025 20:35

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Josh Marcus

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Senator Ted Cruz is joining a handful of conservatives who have expressed reservations over the Federal Communications Commission’s posture in the Jimmy Kimmel scandal.

“What he said there is dangerous as hell,” Cruz said on a recent episode of his podcast, referring to FCC chair Brendan Carr’s comments, directed at ABC license-holders, that “we can do this the easy way or the hard way,” which came shortly before Kimmel was taken off the air.

“That’s right out of Goodfellas, that’s right out of a mafioso coming into a bar,” Cruz continued.

“If the government gets in the business of saying, ‘We don’t like what you in the media have said. We’re going to ban you from the airwaves if you don’t say what we like,’ that will end up bad for conservatives,” the Texas senator added.

Others have expressed a similar opinion in recent days, including on Fox News.

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Former Disney CEO slams decision to pull Kimmel: 'Where has all the leadership gone?'

Friday 19 September 2025 20:21

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Josh Marcus

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Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner on Friday tore into the decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel from the airwaves.

“Where has all the leadership gone?” he wrote on X, a pointed remark considering Disney is the parent company of ABC, which is home to Jimmy Kimmel Live! “If not for university presidents, law firm managing partners, and corporate chief executives standing up against bullies, who then will step up for the first amendment?”

“The ‘suspending indefinitely’ of Jimmy Kimmel immediately after the Chairman of the FCC's aggressive yet hollow threatening of the Disney Company is yet another example of out-of-control intimidation,” Eisner added. “Maybe the Constitution should have said, “Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, except in one’s political or financial self-interest.”

ABC 'hopeful' Kimmel can return once he has taken 'down the temperature': report

Friday 19 September 2025 20:05

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Josh Marcus

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The curtains might not have closed for the final time on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, according to ABC insiders.

Sources familiar with the network told CNN that ABC’s parent company Disney is “hopeful” there will be a way to put Kimmel back on the air sometime in the future, even as the comedian’s contract is set to end in May of next year.

Another inside source told the outlet that Kimmel remains well-regarded throughout ABC, despite fears his comments on Charlie Kirk put the network in jeopardy.

“Everyone deeply values him and wants him to come back,” the source said. “But he has to take down the temperature.”

Amid Kimmel controversy, JD Vance says he doesn't believe 'bellyaching from the left over '"free speech"'

Friday 19 September 2025 19:50

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Josh Marcus

Vice President JD Vance clearly isn’t all that alarmed by the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show, despite criticisms that the Trump administration violated free speech rights and pressured the network to take him off the air.

“Jimmy Kimmel wasn’t funny, his ratings were in the toilet, and his advertisers were revolting,” Vance wrote on X on Friday. “Also the bellyaching from the left over ‘free speech’ after the Biden years fools precisely no one.”

“There was a point where I’d watch his show nearly every night,” Vance added. “He’s a genuinely talented guy, but like so much good and funny in the world the woke thing destroyed it.”

Others, like former Kimmel writer Joel Stein, see the suspension as an alarming sign for the state of America. Read his full commentary.

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Jimmy Kimmel is the honorary mayor of a small Canadian town with a racy name. Even they’re worried

Friday 19 September 2025 19:35

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Mike Bedigan

Residents of a tiny Canadian town with a racy name – and where Jimmy Kimmel is the honorary mayor – have said the comedian is welcome to return should he remain off air for a long stretch of time.

"I can speak for all the people of the community of Dildo that we would certainly roll out the red carpet for him and he'd be welcome, same as he was if he still had … his television show," bed and breakfast owner Todd Warren told CBC.

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AOC says Charlie Kirk's 'rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant'