By Anastasia Blosser

Copyright thestar

Celebrities and American politicians are reacting to ABC’s decision to take Jimmy Kimmel’s long-running late night talk show off the air “indefinitely” following his comments about the assassination of right-wing personality Charlie Kirk.

Kimmel reacted to Kirk’s death on Monday and Tuesday nights where he made several remarks about the political reaction to the shooting and the suspect’s arrest.

“The MAGA Gang (is) 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 during his Monday night monologue. “In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.”

ABC, which has carried Kimmel’s late-night show since 2003, made the move after Nexstar Communications Group said it would pull the show from ABC affiliates starting Wednesday.

Ahead of the suspension announcement, U.S. Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr appeared on the Benny Johnson podcast and called Kimmel’s comments a “very, very serious issue” for Disney, ABC’s network parent.

“We can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to take action on Kimmel or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead,” he said.

American politicians weigh in

U.S. President Donald Trump called the suspension “great news for America,” in a post on Truth Social.

“Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done. Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even (Stephen) Colbert, if that’s possible. That leaves Jimmy (Fallon) and Seth (Meyers), two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!!” he wrote.

Former U.S. president Barack Obama said the suspension is “precisely the kind of government coercion that the First Amendment was designed to prevent.”

“After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like,” Obama wrote in a social media post. He called on media companies to stand up to the government instead of capitulating in these situations.

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom accused the Republican Party of censoring the media in a post on X.

“Buying and controlling media platforms. Firing commentators. Canceling shows. These aren’t coincidences. It’s co-ordinated. And it’s dangerous,” he wrote.

Hakeem Jeffries, the leader of the House Democrats, released a statement on social media calling for the resignation of Brendan Carr, chairperson of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. Yesterday, Carr said the commission had a strong case for holding Kimmel and ABC accountable for spreading misinformation.

Jeffries said Carr had engaged in a “corrupt abuse of power” and “bullying ABC” to capitulate to the Trump administration.

“Donald Trump and the Republican Party’s war on the First Amendment is blatantly inconsistent with American values,” the statement reads. “The censoring of artists and cancellation of shows is an act of cowardice.”

The statement adds that House Democrats “will make sure the American people learn the truth,” potentially by calling involved parties to appear before Congress.

Comedians condemn move

Actor, director and comedian Ben Stiller simply posted “this isn’t right” in response to the announcement.

Comedian and podcaster Marc Maron accused ABC of “muzzling” Kimmel and taking him off the air to try and appease the Nexstar media conglomerate and Trump administration.

“This is government censorship. This is the Trump administration coming after people who speak out against him,” he said in a video on Instagram. “If you have any concern or belief in real freedom or the Constitution and free speech, this is it. This is the deciding moment. This is what authoritarianism looks like right now in this country.”

“This is the United States government silencing voices that they disagree with,” he added.

Comedian and actress Wanda Sykes posted a video on Instagram where she said she had been in full makeup, waiting to appear on the show when the suspension was announced.

”(Trump) didn’t end the Ukraine war or solve Gaza within his first week, but he did end freedom of speech within his first year. For those of you who pray, now’s the time. Love you Jimmy.”

Actor and producer Henry Winkler called Kimmel “a most wonderful fellow,” in a post on X, saying his humour and insights “are important to keep showing us who we are.”

The Writers Guild of America issued a statement Thursday saying the union stands in solidarity with Kimmel and his writers.

“The right to speak our minds and to disagree with each other – to disturb, even – is at the very heart of what it means to be a free people. It is not to be denied. Not by violence, not by the abuse of governmental power, nor by acts of corporate cowardice,” the statement opens. “We stand united in opposition to anyone who uses their power and influence to silence the voices of writers, or anyone who speaks in dissent. If free speech applied only to ideas we like, we needn’t have bothered to write it into the Constitution. What we have signed on to – painful as it may be at times – is the freeing agreement to disagree.”

“Shame on those in government who forget this founding truth. As for our employers, our words have made you rich. Silencing us impoverishes the whole world.”

Emmy winning actress Jean Smarts said she was “horrified” when she learned the show would be pulled from the air.

“What Jimmy said was FREE speech, not hate speech. People seem to only want to protect free speech when it suits THEIR agenda,” she wrote in a post on Instagram. “Though I didn’t agree at ALL with Charlie Kirk; his shooting death sickened me; and should have sickened any decent human being. What is happening to our country?”

Actor Dominic Monaghan spoke highly of Kimmel after knowing the late night host for over two decades.

“We all know his public persona as a funny talented committed talk show host who cares about people but from a personal point of view he has always been so kind and caring to his staff and all of his guests,” he wrote on Instagram.

“First (Stephen Colbert) now Jimmy. Control the media and what it puts out you control the people. Shocking.”

Comedian and actor Mike Birbiglia posted a photo of a handwritten note sharing his stance on the Kimmel suspension.

“If you’re a comedian and you don’t call out the insanity of pulling Kimmel off the air — don’t bother spouting off about freedom of speech anymore.”

Kimmel’s suspension comes months after CBS announced “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” would be canceled next May.

Colbert, a persistent critic of Trump, had criticized a settlement between the U.S. president and Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, days before, but the network attributed the cancellation to “financial reasons.”

Kirk, a longtime ally of Trump, was fatally shot in the neck while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10.

Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested Friday on suspicion of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily harm, and obstruction of justice, all felonies, according to a probable cause statement filed in court.

With files from the Associated Press