Jimmy Kimmel's late night talk show disappeared from American television screens for a week. The reason was threats from Donald Trump.
America has experienced another heightened dispute between Donald Trump and a television station that dared to criticize his actions. The current leadership of the country, along with its officials, began threatening to revoke licenses and lawsuits, and as a result, ABC station suspended the broadcast of Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show for a week. Critics of this move speak of an attack on democracy and restriction of freedom of speech.
The subject of the dispute was the broadcasting of Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show, in which he stated, among other things, that the gang around Trump's MAGA movement (Make America Great Again) is trying to score political points with murder. He also criticized the fact that Trump had the flags lowered at federal buildings and offices in Kirk's honor.
"This is how an adult does not mourn over someone he called a friend. This is how a four year old mourns a goldfish,"
Quoted Kimmel Czech News Agency. The BBC noted that the activist's murder was previously condemned on Instagram and expressed condolences to Kirk's family in this way. It is also worth adding that Kimmel had often spoken about Trump in the past.
Pressure of the powerful
The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, responded to the moderator's comment, stating that his office could investigate the matter and fine broadcasting companies, or even revoke their licenses. Companies that rebroadcast ABC or are linked with the station subsequently announced they would not be airing the talk show. The current Minister of Justice, Pam Bondi, in this context, stated that there is “no place" for hate speech. The whole matter is particularly sensitive because the fight against hate speech has had strong opposition in the past, particularly from conservatives who appealed to freedom of speech. The US President himself added his two cents.
"Great news for America,"
Trump wrote on his Truth Social network in response to the show being cancelled. The American president and his government also announced that they will take action against commentators who, in their opinion, are not commenting appropriately on Kirk's death. Critics consider this very alarming. He even later suggested that American televisions could be punished for negative news about the head of state and their broadcasting license could be revoked.
The entire situation was cleverly paraphrased on his Facebook profile by Czech writer Leoš Kyša, who writes his books under the nickname Kotleta.
“People, who hated cancel culture just yesterday, simply wanted someone else to have the keys to it. Themselves.”
Defense of Freedom of Speech
American Democratic politicians, including former President Barack Obama or the California Governor Gavin Newsom, criticized Trump's administration move as they talked about pressure and censorship. Other public figures stood up for the television host as well. They also pointed the finger at the Disney company, under which the ABC television belongs.
For example, actor Ben Stiller commented on Kimmel's show download to X, saying "it's not right". Actresses Wandy Sykes, Kathy Griffin, Amy Landecker, and screenwriter and producer Damon Lindelof, who is behind the series Lost (Lost), also expressed their disagreement, reported the portal Seznam Zprávy.
The union of actors and television and radio artists SAG-AFTRA has stated on the X network that "the decision to suspend the broadcast of Jimmy Kimmel Live! is a type of suppression and retaliation that threatens the freedoms of all."
Show Renewal
In the end, the public support paid off for Kimmel. After a week of airing the show on the ABC station, Disney company renewed it.
"We spent several of the last few days in meaningful conversations with Kimmel, and after them we came to the conclusion to bring the show back on air on Tuesday,"
quoted the television brand magazine Variety.
According to some journalists, it is a visible act of defiance in the face of Trump's escalating offensive against their perceived media critics through lawsuits and regulatory threats from the federal regulator.
As part of the Tuesday program, there was also a small sketch by actor Robert De Niro, who paraphrased the words of Brendan Carr, who originally threatened Kimmel that his office might revoke Disney's license.
"Be careful to choose the right words next time,"
The known actor ironically stated on this topic.
During the broadcast, the host among other things said, it was never his intention to downplay the murder of the young activist.
Further Threats
However, the revival of the talk show still provoked Donald Trump.
"I can't believe that fraudulent ABC News gave Kimmel his job back,"
the president stated on the Truth Social network. He further added that he supposedly will have to "test" ABC. He is referring to the sum that Disney channel had previously paid for an out-of-court settlement of Donald Trump's lawsuit against ABC News and host George Stephanopoulos.
The United States is changing. The media, which attacked the president during Trump's first term, are now trying to be more cautious. This also applies to other employers. They are slowly but surely often saying goodbye to people who express themselves inappropriately on social networks about the murdered Kirk, or who are otherwise in opposition to the current Republican leadership of the country.
Sources: ČTK, Seznam Zprávy, Leoš Kyša, ABC, Variety
