By Bandit Powell
Elm Staff Writer
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was suspended indefinitely on Sept. 17 following comments made by host Jimmy Kimmel that President Donald Trump disagreed with. Americans are alarmed because the suspension challenged Kimmel’s right to free speech, which is protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution. In response, viewers began boycotting ABC and Disney, reaching out to local officials, and speaking out online.
To censor political speech is to enable political propaganda. Every American needs to be able to hear all sides of the story to make rational decisions.
If the Trump administration thinks that the position of president should be protected from scrutiny, then they should be stepping in when other presidents are joked about, not just Trump; the government doesn’t get to cherry-pick which presidents are safe from ridicule.
According to an ABC spokesperson, on Sept. 17, ABC announced, that “Jimmy Kimmel Live will be pre-empted indefinitely,” after Kimmel made remarks regarding the death of a well-known right-wing activist and public personality on his show on Sept. 15.
While Kimmel’s show is on the air again, its suspension is still alarming because the U.S. has laws and protections in place to keep discrimination, including political discrimination, out of the workplace.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr was appointed during Trump’s first term, previously believing that free speech is for everyone, but he has changed his tune in Trump’s second term.
The FCC regulates broadcasts, and it was only after Carr threatened Kimmel’s show, and large station owner Nexstar publicly disagreed with Kimmel, that ABC pulled his show.
“Free speech is the counterweight—it is the check on government control. That is why censorship is the authoritarian’s dream,” Carr said on X in 2023.
The apparent change in opinion of Carr could be attributed to the change in stakes. With Trump threatening to fire anyone who disagrees with him, now is a scary time to be a government official.
On Sept. 23, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” returned to air after ABC and Disney received backlash.
“This show is not important. What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this,” Kimmel said on his return show.
Kimmel also said that he took his freedom of speech for granted until Stephen Colbert’s show was canceled and the government consequently tried to coerce the ABC affiliates to stop playing Kimmel’s show.
Companies are feeling like they need to censor themselves to stay on good terms with the U.S. government. Those that are not caving are losing funding.
Watching unlawful censorship unfold in real time is a frightening sight for the nation.
Republicans are fighting for free speech to be allowed, but do not want to the right exercised if the free speech goes against what they believe. Freedom of expression is a two-way street.
The right to free press runs much deeper than protecting president solely based on the job title. There is a long history of censorship in the United States, from banned books to sedition acts. While some censorship is important for children, adults can make their own decisions about what they see or hear.
During this time of political polarization, Americans need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture when discussing differing views. Recognizing others’ freedom to share their opinions allows everyone to contribute to the conversation and promote respectful discourse rather than attacking those who disagree.
Photo Caption: “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was suspended from and returned to the air, raising concerns regarding free speech.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons