Jennifer Aniston, Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks-Getty Images
More than 400 celebrities have come together to defend Jimmy Kimmel after his late-night show was pulled from ABC. The move came following political pressure, sparking nationwide debate about freedom of speech.
Big names like Jennifer Aniston, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Selena Gomez, Robert De Niro, Jane Fonda, Ben Stiller, Jamie Lee Curtis, Natalie Portman, and Olivia Rodrigo signed an open letter organized by the ACLU. The letter condemns what they describe as government threats against free expression.
The controversy began when Kimmel made remarks on his show about the suspected killer of conservative figure Charlie Kirk. That led to backlash from the right, followed by FCC commissioner Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, pressuring Disney and ABC to take action. Soon after, ABC announced “Jimmy Kimmel Live” would be suspended indefinitely, and dozens of local affiliates stopped airing it.
The ACLU’s letter states:
“We the people must never accept government threats to our freedom of speech. Efforts by leaders to pressure artists, journalists, and companies strike at the heart of what it means to live in a free country.”
Outside ABC’s Hollywood studio, protesters gathered with signs like “Protect Free Speech”, calling Kimmel’s suspension an attack on American values.
The letter, signed by artists across film, TV, music, and activism, emphasizes that this is not just a Hollywood issue. It warns that teachers, journalists, students, and everyday citizens are also facing threats to free expression.
The celebrities argue that regardless of political beliefs, silencing voices sets a dangerous precedent:
“If it happens to one of us, it happens to all of us.”
Interestingly, many of the stars who signed the letter currently work on Disney projects, but the statement avoids mentioning ABC or Disney directly—choosing instead to keep the focus on government pressure.
As of now, Jimmy Kimmel and his legal team are in talks with Disney executives, but no decision has been made about the future of his show.
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