ABC shocked audiences on Wednesday when it pulled Jimmy Kimmel off the air indefinitely, citing strain from federal regulators after his monologue on the taking pictures of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.

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The determination instantly set off debates about censorship, and late-night comedians didn’t waste time weighing in.

Kirk, identified for his combative fashion and MAGA-driven takes, was killed on Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University. The tragedy drew nationwide consideration, and Kimmel addressed the fallout throughout his Sept. 15 present.

“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them,” he stated. By Monday, Kimmel was off the air.

Fallon reacts with confusion

On The Tonight Show, Jimmy Fallon opened with disbelief. “Well, guys, the big story is that Jimmy Kimmel was suspended by ABC after pressure from the FCC, leaving everyone thinking, ‘WTF?’” he advised his viewers.

Fallon joked about waking as much as texts from his dad saying his present was canceled. But he turned critical, including, “I don’t know what’s going on, and no one does. But I do know Jimmy Kimmel, and he’s a decent, funny, and loving guy, and I hope he comes back.”

Colbert calls it censorship

Stephen Colbert, whose present was not too long ago canceled by CBS, devoted a lot of his opening monologue on The Late Show to blasting the transfer. “Yesterday, after threats from Trump’s FCC chair, ABC yanked Kimmel off the air indefinitely. That is blatant censorship,” he stated.

“Tonight, we are all Jimmy Kimmel,” Colbert stated. “If ABC thinks this is going to satisfy the regime, they are woefully naive.”

Colbert then mocked FCC commissioner Brendan Carr, who had referred to as Kimmel’s remarks “the sickest conduct possible.” After enjoying the precise Kimmel clip, Colbert shook his head. “Really? That’s what got him pulled? That’s like Playboy promising a racy new centerfold and then it’s just Jimmy Kimmel.”

Colbert went additional, saying the threats to networks had been chilling. “The chairman of the FCC sounds like he’s telling them to punish Kimmel or else. Shutting down this type of speech represents a serious threat to our freedoms.”

Meyers says it’s an even bigger battle

Seth Meyers used “A Closer Look” to put Kimmel’s suspension in a wider context. “Trump promised to end government censorship and bring back free speech, and he’s doing the opposite,” Meyers stated.

He warned that the U.S. is starting to resemble nations like Hungary and Turkey, the place leaders strain media shops into silence. “This is a pivotal moment for democracy,” he advised viewers, “and we must all stand up for the principles of free expression.”

Jon Stewart leans on satire

Jon Stewart determined to host a particular Thursday version of The Daily Show, the place he framed the second with heavy sarcasm. “Welcome to the all-new, government-approved Daily Show,” he joked. Stewart ridiculed Trump’s abroad journey and segued into Kimmel’s suspension, mocking the administration’s obsession with controlling the media.

“Jimmy Kimmel was fired because he had bad ratings more than anything else. And he said a horrible thing about a great gentleman known as Charlie Kirk,” Stewart deadpanned.

He closed the section by lampooning the concept that free speech solely applies to these in energy. “Anytime Hungary is in the news, comedy writers cheer, but this crackdown is no joke. We’re sliding into authoritarianism faster than anyone thought.”

Letterman weighs in, too

Even David Letterman, not behind a late-night desk, spoke up. At The Atlantic Festival on Sept. 18, he referred to as the scenario “a misery”. He warns, “In the world of somebody who is an authoritarian, maybe a dictatorship, sooner or later, everyone is going to be touched.”

“We all see where this is going, correct?” he continued. “You can’t go around firing somebody because you’re fearful or trying to suck up to an authoritarian — a criminal — administration in the Oval Office. That’s just not how this works.”

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