OPINION: Kimmel’s suspension isn’t about comedy, it’s censorship 

On Wednesday afternoon, “Jimmy Kimmel Live” was indefinitely suspended over remarks Kimmel had made on Monday’s show about the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk.  

This occurred after a remark Brendan Carr, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commissioner, made threatening to act against ABC due to the comments Kimmel had made. ABC, which is owned by the Walt Disney Corporation, caved almost instantly, but made no effort to explain their decision or to release a statement on the matter.  

The main reason for the cancellation came from Kimmel’s opening monologue when the show began.  

“We hit 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 doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said. 

This sparked outrage among conservatives, calling the statement insensitive and further angering them surrounding Tyler Robinson’s, the man charged with Kirk’s murder, political beliefs.  

Little is known about Robinson’s political views, but prosecutors said he wrote in a text to his partner, “I had enough of [Kirk’s] hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”  

According to an article by the New York Times, Robison’s mother had said that he had recently been leaning more liberal in his views.  

Donald Trump, who frequently criticized Kimmel’s show, shared his views on the show being canceled on his social media platform Truth Social.  

“Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done,” Trump wrote. “Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible. That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!!” 

Carr said on a right-wing podcast that Kimmel’s remarks were a “concerted effort to lie to the American people.” 

Is this about holding Kimmel accountable, or about silencing dissent?   

This event follows the “Late Night Show” with Stephen Colbert’s cancellation in May after its 10th season. While the move was explained as financial reasons, many speculated that it was due to criticism from Trump and political pressures from the Trump administration after CBS settled a lawsuit with them.  

Colbert went as far as to make a joke about his resume and job opportunities after winning his first Emmy award.  

While Kimmel’s remarks were insensitive and ill-timed, the suspension or cancellation of shows that simply express political views is extreme. The fact that Trump said he had other shows on NBC that he wanted to be canceled next blurs the lines between rightfully canceled shows and censorship.  

If Trump cheered Colbert’s cancellation and now celebrates Kimmel’s suspension, how long before every comedian who criticizes him is gone? 

Kimmel may have deserved a temporary suspension, but the total loss of his show seems extreme. It only shows that networks now cave to the Trump administration after threats.  

You don’t have to like Kimmel to see the danger here. If late night shows disappear one by one under political pressure, we are not just losing comedy, we are losing a part of democracy. 

Andrea Roberts can be reached at [email protected].