By Ben Williams

Copyright unilad

Hollywood legend Ben Stiller has waded into the storm surrounding Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension, and his blunt three-word response has sparked fresh debate online.

ABC pulled the plug on Kimmel’s late-night show indefinitely after the comedian addressed the fallout from Charlie Kirk’s death during an opening monologue. The decision has divided audiences, with many slamming the move as an attack on free speech.

The controversy erupted following the death of far-right commentator and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk. The 31-year-old was fatally shot at Utah Valley University last week, with disturbing footage of the incident quickly circulating across social media.

His passing triggered a wave of reactions from across the political spectrum, with some offering condolences to his family while others reflected on his divisive career.

Kimmel, never one to shy away from controversy, made remarks about how political figures – including President Donald Trump — had reacted to Kirk’s death.

Those comments didn’t sit well with ABC, which swiftly moved to suspend him, while broadcaster Nexstar confirmed it wouldn’t air Kimmel’s show during the fallout.

The move hasn’t gone down well with plenty of viewers, and celebrities have begun weighing in, too. Quoting the above post on X (formerly Twitter) revealing the suspension, Ben Stiller cut straight to the point, saying: “This isn’t right.”

That sharp statement has been doing the rounds across social media, with many agreeing with the actor’s sentiment and arguing the network’s decision undermines the very principle of free expression.

One X user echoed the point directly in reply, writing: “freedom of speech doesn’t exist anymore”. Meanwhile, others like went further, claiming: “Cancel culture is back.”

Stiller isn’t the only big name to back Kimmel. Jean Smart, star of Hacks, shared the above post on Instagram, saying: “I am horrified at the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel Live. What Jimmy said was FREE speech, not hate speech. People seem to only want to protect free speech when it suits THEIR agenda.”

Meanwhile, politicians have been making their own stance clear. Vice President JD Vance issued warnings that anyone seen to be celebrating Kirk’s death could face serious consequences, including losing their jobs. Attorney General Pam Bondi has also hinted at potential legal action against those who cross the line.

Still, this episode has fuelled a wider conversation about who decides the boundaries of comedy and criticism in America.

As one Reddit commenter, HighScorsese, put it in response to a thread linking to Stiller’s remarks: “And where is the ‘can’t do comedy without getting cancelled’ crew? Crickets from the Joe Rogans of the world so far.”