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400+ Celebrities Denounce Disney’s Decision to Jimmy Kimmel Show Off the Air
Over 400 artists, including notable figures with connections to Disney, have signed an open letter from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) condemning the decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live!. The letter denounces Disney’s actions, which followed government threats over comments Kimmel made about the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
Prominent signatories with Disney ties include Tom Hanks, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ariana DeBose, Diego Luna, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Natalie Portman, and Martin Short. Their protest adds to a growing chorus of criticism, including from former Disney CEO Michael Eisner, who previously condemned the company’s action.
Related – The Crew of Jimmy Kimmel LIVE will be paid next week as talks to bring show back continue
A Stand for Freedom of Speech
The ACLU’s letter argues that the suspension represents a “dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.” It states, “We the people must never accept government threats to our freedom of speech. Efforts by leaders to pressure artists, journalists, and companies with retaliation for their speech strike at the heart of what it means to live in a free country.”
Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the ACLU, drew a parallel to a historical era of censorship. “We now find ourselves in a modern McCarthy era, facing exactly the type of heavy-handed government censorship our Constitution rightfully forbids,” Romero said in a press release. He added that the silencing of Kimmel “evokes dark memories of the 1950s” and called on Americans to mobilize in defense of free speech.
The Events Leading to the Suspension
The show’s suspension came after Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Brendan Carr threatened Disney’s FCC license, warning of “additional work for the FCC” for companies that “fail to change conduct.” This pressure followed Kimmel’s controversial remarks where he accused the “MAGA gang” of “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.”
Prior to the suspension, Nexstar and Sinclair, two of the largest owners of ABC affiliate stations, had already decided to preempt the show, with Sinclair’s vice chairman calling Kimmel’s remarks “inappropriate and deeply insensitive.” The letter encourages all Americans to join the ACLU in the fight to defend and preserve constitutionally protected rights.
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