Late-Night Hosts Unite in Support of Kimmel Amid Trump’s Media Threats

Tue Oct 21 2025 18:36:35 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In response to Jimmy Kimmel's suspension by ABC over controversial remarks, fellow late-night hosts have rallied to his defense, framing the incident as a serious threat to free speech, as Trump insinuates punitive measures against critical media.

Following Jimmy Kimmel's controversial suspension from ABC, late-night television hosts like Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, and Jimmy Fallon have voiced their support for him, denouncing the action as a threat to free speech. Kimmel's comments, which were critical of Donald Trump in light of a recent tragedy, provoked backlash from the President and led to calls for consequences against media outlets. The incident has sparked a significant discussion about freedom of expression in the current political landscape.

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 with satirical sketches where they seemed to praise Donald Trump.

These broadcasts come shortly after President Trump suggested the main networks were overwhelmingly negative about him and hinted they could have their licenses taken away.

The row started when Kimmel described the Maga gang as trying to distort the narrative surrounding Kirk’s murder to score political points. He drew criticisms for equating Trump’s reaction to that of a child mourning a pet.

Brendan Carr, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, labeled Kimmel's comments as sick, raising concerns he had misled the public. This sparked further outrage from conservative factions who argue that Kimmel was perpetuating a false narrative.

Late-night hosts began to unite in response. Meyers made a sarcastic remark about Trump's administration's approach to free speech on his Late Night program, framing Kimmel's suspension as part of a broader attack on media criticism.

Fallon expressed his concerns over potential censorship while showing support for Kimmel, emphasizing his belief in covering important topics without fear of backlash.

Colbert vehemently defended Kimmel, claiming this was not just an issue about one man's comments but a hostile environment for critical voices in media.

The situation sent ripples through liberal America while emboldening those who align with Trump's views, indicating a divided response based on political belief.

Overall, Kimmel’s suspension has ignited a fierce debate surrounding free speech and the current administration’s perceived attack on media critics, with the repercussions of this incident likely to linger in the media landscape.