John Oliver, host of “Last Week Tonight,” recently voiced his concerns regarding the suspension of fellow late-night host Jimmy Kimmel’s show. The drama erupted when Kimmel briefly compared rightwing commentator Charlie Kirk to a Nazi, which drew cries of outrage and demands for punishment. Oliver had ardently supported Kimmel. In doing so, he underscored how important free speech is, particularly in an environment where the administration is applying political pressure to silence them.
In a follow-up segment on his own show, Oliver noted that Kimmel’s remarks were not meant to be aimed at Kirk himself. As a telling aside, he noted how half of his audience couldn’t even tell him what line in Kimmel’s monologue was so “offensive.” Oliver stated, “A person getting shot is tragic and a person getting shot for their ideas is horrifying, that is true no matter what their ideas are.” His comments brought to light the fine line that comedians walk when they tackle sensitive topics.
Oliver went on to underscore the importance of the First Amendment, especially now in American society. He argued, “The first amendment is absolutely critical in this country,” illustrating his belief that comedic expression should not be stifled by political agendas. He pointed to parallels with Hungary and Russia. In those countries, you see authoritarian governments really going after comedians and public figures in an effort to suppress dissent.
In that critique, Oliver stood up for Kimmel from the right’s attempt to smear him for making fun of Kirk’s death. He clarified that Kimmel’s remarks were aimed at highlighting how some in the political right were attempting to “weaponise Kirk’s death to do things they’ve been wanting to do for years.” This perspective resonated with many who viewed Kimmel’s comments as part of a larger conversation about the manipulation of tragedy for political gain.
Oliver didn’t pull punches, calling out Disney — Kimmel’s employer. Most importantly, he called on them to “have Jimmy Kimmel stand by his staff.” He slammed the grounds for Kimmel’s suspension as “shamelessly flimsy.” He called on constituents to direct their anger at Disney by dumping Disney+ and Hulu and pressuring Disney to drop their LGBTQ agenda.
He took a whack at Brendan Carr, the Federal Communications Commission commissioner. Carr mocked those who opposed Kimmel and suggested that the fight against Kimmel came from a local, grassroots movement by broadcasters. Oliver quipped, “Oh very cool just when I thought this factory setting white man couldn’t get any hotter,” reflecting his disdain for Carr’s comments.
The comedian’s experience, Oliver suggested, is an example of a dangerous trend. This is, unfortunately, in line with a troubling trend that has seen comedians and artists pressured to self-censor their work. He reminded viewers that “Kimmel is by no means the first casualty in Trump’s attack on free speech.” His remarks were music to the ears of attendees anxious about what political power being increasingly used to limit the freedom of artists might mean.
Oliver encapsulated the ongoing struggle against censorship by stating, “Giving the bully your lunch money doesn’t make him go away, it just makes him come back hungrier each time.” This feeling reflects a broader resistance to giving in to bully culture, a cowardice that may have permanent repercussions on our ability to speak freely.