Hollywood Unions Condemn ABC's Suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live Over Free Speech Concerns
Hollywood’s leading unions are uniting in opposition to ABC’s indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! following comments made by host Jimmy Kimmel about the Charlie Kirk shooting incident. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), the American Federation of Musicians (AFM), and the Directors Guild of America (DGA) issued a joint statement condemning the move, describing it as part of a broader “disturbing trend of increasing interference in creative expression.”
Hollywood unions denounce ABC’s indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live, calling it government pressure and a threat to free speech.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
The suspension was announced Wednesday after Nexstar, one of the nation’s largest local TV station owners, and other station groups confirmed plans to preempt the program. Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr had previously threatened possible action against ABC affiliates after Kimmel suggested in his monologue that the shooting suspect was a MAGA Republican.
In their statement, the unions emphasized the far-reaching consequences of the suspension. “The indefinite removal of Jimmy Kimmel Live! under government pressure is not an isolated incident. It is part of a disturbing trend of increasing interference in creative expression. This kind of political pressure on broadcasters and artists chills free speech and threatens the livelihoods of thousands of working Americans.”
The statement further warned that compliance with political intimidation undermines the First Amendment. “When a private citizen, business, or television network bows to government intimidation, it strikes at the heart of our First Amendment rights. Creative artists must be free to do their work without fear that their careers or their family’s livelihoods will be disrupted simply for their opinions.”
The unions also highlighted the economic implications for industry workers, noting that production staff face job insecurity at a time when the entertainment sector continues to struggle with globalization and industry contraction. “These cases pull the rug out from under the hardworking American workers behind the scenes who make these productions possible,” the statement said.
Other industry organizations, including the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA, have also spoken out. WGA announced plans to protest at Disney’s main gate in Burbank on Thursday, demanding that ABC reinstate Kimmel. AFM had previously released its own statement, with international president Tino Gagliardi describing the suspension as “state censorship.”
The joint statement concluded by urging broadcasters to protect both workers and creative freedom: “Media companies have a responsibility to defend their workers and the integrity of the stories they tell. All broadcasters must stand firm in defense of free expression and the First Amendment, not capitulate to a policy of political appeasement.”
Here is the full statement:
The indefinite removal of Jimmy Kimmel Live under government pressure is not an isolated incident. It is part of a disturbing trend of increasing interference in creative expression. This kind of political pressure on broadcasters and artists chills free speech and threatens the livelihoods of thousands of working Americans.
When a private citizen, business, or television network bows to government intimidation, it strikes at the heart of our First Amendment rights. Creative artists must be free to do their work without fear that their careers or their family’s livelihoods will be disrupted simply for their opinions.
These cases pull the rug out from under the hardworking American workers behind the scenes who make these productions possible. At a time when America’s film and television industry is still struggling due to globalization and industry contraction, further unnecessary job losses only make a bad situation worse.
Finally, media companies have a responsibility to defend their workers and the integrity of the stories they tell. All broadcasters must stand firm in defense of free expression and the First Amendment, not capitulate to a policy of political appeasement.
