In an unexpected move, Disney has opted to cancel “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” effective immediately. This action follows host Jimmy Kimmel’s faux mournful comments joking about the death of Charlie Kirk. This last decision sparked a firestorm of protest from Tinseltown. More than 400 major stars and filmmakers like Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Bacon, Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks signed an open letter in opposition. The letter calls on Americans to defend and protect their right to free speech. It portrays the importance of pushing back against real or imagined government coercion and censorship.
That’s when the firestorm began — after Kimmel’s comments drew the ire of Trump’s base. This backlash prompted Brendan Carr, the head of the FCC, to threaten punitive measures against Disney, including the revocation of affiliate broadcast licenses, unless Disney fixed the matter. The controversial nature of Kimmel’s comments has brought to light the question of the limits of free speech in the entertainment and media industry today.
The American Civil Liberties Union took to the twitters to publicly lambaste Disney’s ousting of Kimmel’s show. ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero criticized the government’s heavy-handed approach, likening the current situation to a modern-day McCarthy era. He said that this type of censorship is unconstitutional and should not be permitted. In truth, we should never accept it in a just, democratic society.
“We now find ourselves in a modern McCarthy era, facing exactly the type of heavy-handed government censorship our constitution rightfully forbids,” – Anthony D Romero
The ACLU’s open letter makes a powerful case for protecting free speech on college campuses. Free speech for Americans of all political stripes. It pleads for solidarity in protecting the speech of those whose voices the powerful would try to silence.
“Regardless of our political affiliation, or whether we engage in politics or not, we all love our country,” – from the letter
Actress Whoopi Goldberg confronted this racism straight-on when she reacted to the incident on her show “The View.” She underscored that Kimmel’s work during his 29-season tenure must be drowned out by the political differences expressed. Goldberg emphasized why it’s vital to pursue honest and civil discourse in a democratic society.
“Did y’all really think we weren’t going to talk about Jimmy Kimmel? I mean, have you watched the show over the last 29 seasons? No one silences us,” – Whoopi Goldberg
With Kimmel’s show suspended, fingers were crossed as advocates compared what was unfolding today to that political atmosphere of the 1950s. During that time, individuals paid a bitter price for their views and vocalizations. The ACLU letter definitely brings together a lot of nostalgia that many Americans have. They love free speech and fear the threats of government overreach.
Carr’s threats don’t end with Kimmel’s show. He even has plans to explore “The View,” which increases fears about media organizations’ capacity to operate independently without government meddling.
As this story continues to unfold, we look forward in seeing how Disney will address these issues head on. How this ultimately plays out, though, will have repercussions for “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and many other media outlets.
“The silencing of Jimmy Kimmel and jawboning of media outlets through lawsuits and threats to their licenses evoke dark memories of the 1950s,” – Anthony D Romero