Hollywood artists denounce censorship in the Jimmy Kimmel case

Photo of Mauro Lima in Unsplash

A group of more than 400 Hollywood celebrities—including actors, musicians, directors, and theater figures—signed an open letter promoted by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), denouncing what they consider an unjustified and unconstitutional suspension of the program. Jimmy Kimmel Live! by the ABC network, a subsidiary of Disney.

What happened?

ABC temporarily suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! following the host's much-discussed remarks about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The suspension came after ABC-affiliated stations refused to air the show, under pressure attributed to the government, especially the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), with potential threats to television licenses.

The terms of the letter

The open letter, released by the ACLU, makes several points:

• That the suspension constitutes an attack on freedom of expression, protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
• That the government has used threats against private companies to suppress political criticism, which represents a dangerous precedent.
• That if an artist's voice can be silenced by those in power, all voices are at risk.

Featured signatories

Among the more than 400 names that signed the letter are:

• Veteran actors like Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, Jennifer Aniston, Jane Fonda. The
• Also younger personalities or from other fields such as Selena Gomez, Olivia Rodrigo, Pedro Pascal, Diego Luna.
• Theater figures, writers, and content creators abound on the list of signatories.

Demonstrations by Hollywood artists

• The suspension sparked public protests, demonstrations outside Disney offices, and criticism from various entertainment sectors.
• Concerns were raised about possible political interference in private media outlets, and about the government's ability to use regulatory agencies to pressure media networks or networks.
• Some media outlets have compared it to the McCarthy era, a historical period widely criticized for its ideological persecution.

After weeks of uncertainty, Jimmy Kimmel confirmed his return to Jimmy Kimmel Live!. ABC announced that the show will return today, Tuesday, in its regular time slot (11:35 p.m. ET).

The host thanked his colleagues and the public for their support, assuring them that he will continue to use humor as a tool to challenge power and defend freedom of expression.

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Sources:

• EFE
• The Guardian