Hollywood Melts Down Over Jimmy Kimmel’s Indefinite Suspension

Hollywood is freaking out over “Jimmy Kimmel Live” being pulled “indefinitely” following comments the late-night host made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Comedian Wanda Sykes expressed her frustration via a video on Instagram, saying she was scheduled to appear on Kimmel on Wednesday night. 

“Let’s see. He didn’t end the Ukraine war or solve Gaza within his first week. But he did end freedom of speech within his first year. Hey, for those of you who pray, now’s the time to do it. Love you, Jimmy,” Sykes said.

Comedian Rosie O’Donnell shared a photo of Kimmel on Instagram. She wrote in the caption, “[T]his is unacceptable — f*** this fascist administration and corrupt corporate executives — bowing to the orange monster — america [sic] is no more.”

“I’ve spent a lot of time in public + private defending comedians I don’t agree with,” comedian Mike Birbiglia posted on Instagram. “If you’re a comedian + don’t call out the insanity of pulling Kimmel off the air — don’t bother spouting off about free speech anymore.”

“This isn’t right,” wrote “Zoolander” actor Ben Stiller in response to the news.

“Please, take it from me, it is very important to have Jimmy Kimmel’s back right now. Be vocal. Be an ideological consumer. Money is all their crown cares about,” comedian and actress Kathy Griffin said.

Singer John Legend reposted a quote from senior editor at The Atlantic and MSNBC contributor David Frum to his Instagram Stories that said, “How dare you call us fascists just because our appointees threaten government retaliation against broadcast networks if their comedians don’t say what we want them to say.”

Not everyone in Hollywood was mad, though. Comedian Roseanne Barr pointed out the hypocrisy of those upset about Kimmel being indefinitely suspended, who had previously supported her being taken off the air. 

“Yeah imagine an administration putting pressure on a television channel to fire a comedian they didn’t like,” she wrote, responding to Frum’s complaints about the situation.

A spokesperson for Disney’s ABC on Wednesday explained the decision to take Kimmel’s show off the air.

“Mr. Kimmel’s comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse, and we do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located,” said Andrew Alford, President of Nexstar’s broadcasting division.

“Continuing to give Mr. Kimmel a broadcast platform in the communities we serve is simply not in the public interest at the current time, and we have made the difficult decision to preempt his show in an effort to let cooler heads prevail as we move toward the resumption of respectful, constructive dialogue,” he added.

Sinclair, one of the largest broadcast companies in the United States, said Wednesday night that it would air a special tribute to Charlie Kirk this Friday in the late-night time slot that Jimmy Kimmel’s show had occupied.