House Democrats call for FCC chair's resignation in the wake of Jimmy Kimmel suspension

Guilds like the WGA and SAG-AFTRA also weighed in. “The right to speak our minds and to disagree with each other—to disturb, even—is at the very heart of what it means to be a free people. It is not to be denied. Not by violence, not by the abuse of governmental power, nor by acts of corporate cowardice,” said the Writers Guild of America in a searing statement. “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. What we have signed on to—painful as it may be at times—is the freeing agreement to disagree. Shame on those in government who forget this founding truth. As for our employers, our words have made you rich. Silencing us impoverishes the whole world. The WGA stands with Jimmy Kimmel and his writers.”

Fellow guild SAG-AFTRA also condemned the decision in its own statement. “Our society depends on freedom of expression. Suppression of free speech and retaliation for speaking out on significant issues of public concern run counter to the fundamental rights we all rely on,” the guild wrote. “Democracy thrives when diverse points of view are expressed. The decision to suspend airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! is the type of suppression and retaliation that endangers everyone’s freedoms. SAG-AFTRA stands with all media artists and defends their right to express their diverse points of view, and everyone’s right to hear them.”

As they did when The Late Show With Stephen Colbert was canceled earlier this year, many celebrities and supporters have also spoken out against the move. “So I’m in a full face of makeup because I was supposed to go over and have a chat with my friend Jimmy Kimmel on his show, but as you have heard by now, the Jimmy Kimmel show has been pulled indefinitely, abruptly, because of the complaints from the Trump administration,” Wanda Sykes, who was booked as a guest on Wednesday night’s episode, said in an Instagram video. “So let’s see. [President Donald Trump] didn’t end the Ukraine War or solve Gaza within his first week. But he did end freedom of speech within his first year. Hey, for those of you who pray, now’s the time to do it. Love you, Jimmy.”

Jean Smart, who plays a talk show host on Hacks, wrote that she was “horrified” at the suspension. “What Jimmy said was FREE speech, not hate speech. People seem to only want to protect free speech when it suits THEIR agenda. Though I didn’t agree at ALL with Charlie Kirk; his shooting death sickened me; and should have sickened any decent human being. What is happening to our country?” Comedian Mike Birbiglia also weighed in with a hand-written note about free speech. “I’ve spent a lot of time in public and private defending comedians I don’t agree with,” he wrote. “If you’re a comedian and you don’t call out the insanity of pulling Kimmel off the air—don’t bother spouting off about free speech anymore.” 

In the comments in question, Kimmel said, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing anything they can to score political points from it.” Per THR, the host had been “prepared to address the backlash on his Wednesday show… but not apologize.”