ABC Suspends Jimmy Kimmel Over Controversial Remarks, Late-Night Hosts Decry Free Speech Assault

Jimmy Kimmel was suspended indefinitely by ABC following his controversial remarks about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which sparked a widespread debate about free speech and political censorship in the United States. His comments criticized the reaction from the "MAGA gang" and likened President Donald Trump's mourning of Kirk to that of a child mourning a goldfish, provoking backlash from affiliates and the FCC. Prominent late-night hosts including Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, Jon Stewart, and Jimmy Fallon publicly supported Kimmel, framing the suspension as a "blatant assault on freedom of speech" and warning against government censorship under Trump's administration. Colbert, whose own show is set to be canceled, directly condemned the FCC's involvement and called for solidarity among comedians and media figures. The situation has intensified concerns about the Trump administration's efforts to reshape the American media landscape and silence critics. These events highlight the polarized climate surrounding free speech and media freedom in contemporary America.