Late-Night Hosts Unite Against Censorship Following Kimmel's Suspension

Tue Oct 21 2025 00:31:02 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Following Jimmy Kimmel's suspension over controversial comments, America's late-night hosts are rallying together to denounce what they see as a threat to free speech, igniting a nationwide debate on media censorship and political bias.

NBC's Seth Meyers, CBS's Stephen Colbert, and Jon Stewart express solidarity with suspended host Jimmy Kimmel, framing the incident as a significant breach of free speech. The backlash follows President Trump's recent threats against networks he deems unfavorable, with late-night personalities using their platforms to address the implications of censorship and media freedom.

America's late-night TV hosts have rallied behind fellow comedian Jimmy Kimmel after he was suspended by ABC in a row over comments he made about the killing of Charlie Kirk.

Stephen Colbert began his show by saying we are all Jimmy Kimmel, and said the star's removal was a blatant assault on freedom of speech.

Seth Meyers declared it was a privilege and honour to call Jimmy Kimmel my friend, while Jon Stewart and Jimmy Fallon tackled the free speech issue by doing satirical sketches in which they were apparently forced to praise Donald Trump.

Their broadcasts came shortly after the US president said the main networks were overwhelmingly negative about him and could have their licences taken away.

For years, Trump has focused on those in the media who he views as his opponents. Is Kimmel's suspension an attack on free speech? A sign of another media company bowing to Trump's assault? Or a long overdue reckoning? It depends on whose side you are on.

This latest decision has sent a chill through liberal America - and encouraged the president's supporters, who have long railed against the late-night talk show hosts who criticise him.

The row started after Kimmel said in his monologue on Monday that the Maga gang were desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and trying to score political points from it. He also likened Trump's reaction to the conservative political activist's death to how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.

Brendan Carr, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which regulates network TV, called those comments sick. Carr said he had threatened to take action because the host had appeared to directly mislead the American public.

Conservative critics argue that Kimmel was pushing a false narrative by suggesting Kirk's suspected killer was a Make America Great Again Republican. While the exact motive is still not known, on Sunday, the Utah governor had said the suspect was indoctrinated by leftist ideology.

On CBS, The Late Show presenter Colbert said: To Jimmy, I say I stand with you and your staff 100%. He said Kimmel's suspension was blatant censorship and the latest and boldest action in a long campaign against media critics.

Colbert added: Yes they are! Since the beginning... these shows have always talked about the current president, and that happens to be you. He pointed out Trump's previous remarks celebrating Kimmel's predicted cancellation.

In polarised America, the reception to Kimmel's suspension varies significantly by political alignment, with some viewing it as a necessary step while others deem it an unwarranted attack on free expression.