Late-night television and comedy have been a pillar of entertainment in the United States for decades. On Wednesday, ABC announced it is indefinitely suspending “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” a show that has been running since 2003.
The suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is more than just a programming decision, but was made on the direct infringement of free speech, setting a dangerous precedent moving forward that free media and comedy are no longer immune from censorship.
The choice to remove Kimmel from the air came after the long-time late-night host made jabs at President Donald Trump’s reactions to the death of Charlie Kirk. The comments made by Kimmel did not directly revolve around Kirk, nor did they lie about the current situation, which is what many people are claiming.
Instead, the comedian and host aimed at Trump, who, in an interview at the White House, took an opportunity to discuss the latest ballroom renovations, stating he was doing “very good” when asked how he was holding up after Kirk’s death.
After Kimmel’s monologue, making fun of this interview, aired, Brendan Carr, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, which oversees broadcast television, spoke about serious consequences to the network on a right-wing podcast if action was not taken against Kimmel.
Shortly after, Nexstar, an owner of 32 ABC affiliate stations, put pressure on the network, announcing it would not air Kimmel’s show. This pressure acted as a catalyst to cancel the show, with ABC pulling the plug before Kimmel was able to respond to backlash.
The removal of Kimmel sets a dangerous precedent moving forward. Media networks, comedy and entertainment spaces must now self-censor when discussing the president, or they may face removal or suspension for disagreeing with Trump.
In his inauguration address in January, Trump stated, “After years and years of illegal and unconstitutional federal efforts to restrict free expression, I also will sign an executive order to immediately stop all government censorship and bring back free speech to America.”
Yet, the move to remove Kimmel has been celebrated by President Trump, as he has called it “Great news for America,” even threatening other talk-show hosts, stating “That leaves Jimmy and Seth” in reference to Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers.
This is a direct celebration of government censorship, attacking the constitutional right to free speech under the First Amendment.
The president can not claim to want to stop infringements on free speech, yet revoke people’s jobs for disagreeing with him. Not only is it hypocritical, but it is cowardly and a dangerous move toward authoritarianism.
America was founded on the principle that every person has the right to form an opinion, speak it out loud and do so without the fear that the government will control their words. This freedom is the very foundation our democracy stands on.
If Kimmel were removed from the air due to a collective public outrage, not just from Trump supporters, the story would be different. That would be a decision made by the people, which a democratic society should be able to do.
Instead, Americans are witnessing the suppression of free speech not by the people, but by an administration and president unwilling to tolerate public criticism. Trump has shown people in entertainment spaces they are no longer safe to form their own opinions or poke fun at him, as they typically do, without fear of losing their jobs.
Trump’s attacks on the public media are not new to his administration; he has been entirely public about his attacks on free speech. However, they have only ramped up and become more commonplace.
Trump’s attacks on free speech are following a dangerous playbook used similarly by leaders in Hungary, Turkey and Russia to consolidate power and maintain authoritarian control.
The free press is an essential foundation of democracy; without it, people lose access to the truth. Once the press is silenced, it becomes easier to dismantle safeguards that preserve our freedom as a nation.
If the Trump administration continues to take aim at free speech and disbar those who disagree with the president, we risk losing the very foundation of democracy our country was built upon and instead begin to look more like dictatorships.
Media cancellation is a warning sign, and if we do not take action against it, we risk the foundations of the United States. Everyone should be able to say their opinions, whether they are for or against the current administration, freely.
The more free speech is limited, the more in danger our democracy is. We must protect the land of the free.
The Post editorials are independent of the publication's news coverage. The Post can be reached via editor@thepostathens.com.
