By Amelia Hansford

Copyright thepinknews

A host of queer celebrities have shared their support for JImmy Kimmel after Disney subsidiary ABC suspended the presenter’s late-night show following his comments about Charlie Kirk.

The American broadcaster indefinitely suspended the 57-year-old television host’s comedy show earlier this week after he commented on the killing of the right-wing pundit, saying that MAGA Republicans are trying to “capitalise” on his death.

Kirk, 31, died after being shot in the neck while discussing gun violence in the US at Utah Valley University. The suspected shooter, Tyler Robinson, faces the death penalty after being charged with aggravated murder.

Jimmy Kimmel addressed Robinson’s purported political views during an evening monologue on a broadcast of Jimmy Kimmel Live, saying that MAGA Republicans were “desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.”

Since his show’s suspension, increasing numbers of celebrities, politicians, and activists have called for a boycott of all Disney products and brands over ABC’s decision, which many have argued was the result of political pressure from the Trump administration, specifically, from the Federal Communications Commission chair, Brendan Carr.

As reported by the Guardian, multiple calls to boycott ABC and Disney have emerged since the incident, with Nelini Stamp, organizing director of the pro-labor union political group Working Families Party, sharing a viral boycott resource guide online and writing: “Jimmy Kimmel wasn’t suspended because of what he said. He was suspended because the FCC threatened his employer. That’s state-sanctioned censorship and it is a giant red flag … Authoritarianism isn’t coming, it’s already here. Today it’s Jimmy. Tomorrow it’s the rest of us.”

Queer celebs voice support for Jimmy Kimmel following ‘firing’

Out lesbian comedian Wanda Sykes accused US president Donald Trump of undue censorship, saying that, while he hadn’t brokered a deal to “end the Ukraine war, or solve Gaza,” he had managed to “end freedom of speech within his first year.”

“For those of you who pray, now’s the time to do it. Love you, Jimmy,” She said in an Instagram video.

@pinknews In a move widely condemned as “state censorship” and an attack on free speech, ABC has pulled talk show host Jimmy Kimmel from the air “indefinitely” over comments he made about the death of Charlie Kirk. Kimmel was accused of making he made “offensive and insensitive” comments about the death of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk – and his subsequent removal from US TV screens has been welcomed by president and Kirk ally Donald Trump. ABC, which is owned by Disney, confirmed the decision on Wednesday (17 September) with a spokesperson stating: “Jimmy Kimmel Live will be pre-empted indefinitely.” During his opening monologue on Monday (15 September) Kimmel – who has long been a Trump critic – claimed the “MAGA gang” was crying to capitalise on the death of Charlie Kirk and noted Tyler Robinson’s conservative upbringing. “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterise 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. “In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving,” Kimmel went on to say. “On Friday, the White House flew the flags at half staff, which got some criticism, but on a human level, you can see how hard the president is taking this.” The screen then cuts to a clip of Trump saying he is feeling “very good” in the wake of Kirk’s death before proceeding to discuss the construction of a new ballroom at the White House. Kimmel nodded: “Yes, he’s at the fourth stage of grief: construction.” “This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish, OK?” #jimmykimmel #DonaldTrump #JimmyKimmelLive #LGBTQIA #USPolitics #celebrities ♬ Epic News – DM Production

Queer Saturday Night Live actor and comedian Bowen Yang also spoke out against the cancellation, calling Kimmel’s evening monologue “factual information” that, he said, wrongfully “got him yanked off the air.”

Robinson’s political views have been the subject of heavy debate since he was arrested days after Kirk’s death. Several Republicans, including vice president JD Vance, have claimed he is a “leftist extremist,” while others have argued the suspected gunman holds far-right political views.

His political views are not known at the time of reporting, with fact-checking site Snopes noting the 22-year-old was neither a Republican nor a Democrat.

Community actor Alison Brie, who is bisexual, described Kimmel’s suspension over his comments as “unreal” and “very scary” in an Instagram post.

Also, gay journalist Don Lemon described it as a “very dangerous and scary moment for America” in an online video.