Political Use of Kirk Assassination
Trump Criticism Sparks Conservative Backlash
Kimmel to Address Controversy on Return Broadcast
Jimmy Kimmel, the host of the famous late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.
The Walt Disney Company, which had faced criticism for suppressing "freedom of expression," announced on September 17 (local time) that it would resume the famous late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live" just six days after its suspension.
Disney released a statement on September 22, saying, "Over the past few days, we have had in-depth conversations with Jimmy Kimmel, and as a result, we have decided to resume the program on the 23rd."
According to Bloomberg, citing anonymous sources, host Jimmy Kimmel personally negotiated his return with Disney CEO Bob Iger and Dana Walden, co-chair of Disney Entertainment, who oversees ABC. Kimmel is also expected to address the controversy directly during his return broadcast.
On September 15, Kimmel criticized former President Donald Trump for politically exploiting the assassination of conservative youth activist Charlie Kirk, which occurred in Utah on September 10, drawing backlash from conservative circles. Two days later, on September 17, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Brendan Carr threatened to revoke Disney's broadcasting license, as Disney is the owner of ABC.
On the same day, Disney immediately suspended the program indefinitely, and major ABC affiliates such as Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair also stopped airing the show. Outlets like The Guardian pointed out that "ABC's decision came just hours after the Trump administration threatened broadcaster licenses," calling it "an act that threatens freedom of expression."
Talk show hosts rallied behind Kimmel. Not only current hosts like Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon, but also former late-night talk show icons such as Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, and David Letterman expressed their support for Kimmel. According to USA Today, prominent producer and writer Damon Lindelof, as well as screenwriter and director Dan Gilroy, also joined in solidarity through public statements, opinion pieces, and posts on social media platforms.
Famous actress Angelina Jolie expressed concern about the current situation in the United States at the San Sebastian Film Festival, saying, "Division and restrictions on expression are extremely dangerous." However, Jolie avoided making direct comments about comedian Jimmy Kimmel or the show itself. Mark Ruffalo, who has played the role of Hulk in the Marvel series, openly criticized the government for infringing on freedom of expression, while Pedro Pascal and Olivia Rodrigo also called for the protection of democracy and freedom of expression.
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