Moments earlier than information broke about “Jimmy Kimmel Reside!” being suspended indefinitely, comic Wanda Sykes was on the point of sit down and chat with the present’s co-host that night. The suspension got here after the Trump administration lodged complaints about Kimmel’s latest monologue on the late right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
In a video posted to Instagram, Sykes broke the information herself.
“I used to be purported to go over and have a chat with my good friend Jimmy Kimmel on his present, however as you could have heard by now, the Jimmy Kimmel present has been pulled indefinitely, abruptly, due to complaints from the Trump administration,” she instructed followers on Instagram. “So, let’s see, he didn’t finish the Ukraine battle or clear up Gaza inside his first week however he did finish freedom of speech inside his first 12 months. Hey, for these of you who pray, now’s the time to do it. Love you, Jimmy.”
The cancellation immediately sparked backlash and dialog on-line, with heavyweights like former MSNBC journalist Pleasure Reid and former President Barack Obama weighing in.
Obama condemned the choice in an announcement, saying:
“After years of complaining about cancel tradition, the present administration has taken it to a brand new and harmful degree by routinely threatening regulatory motion towards media corporations except they muzzle or fireplace reporters and commentators it doesn’t like. That is exactly the type of authorities coercion that the First Modification was designed to stop — and media corporations want to start out standing up fairly than capitulating to it.”
ABC’s transfer follows FCC chair Brendan Carr’s outrage over Kimmel’s remarks about Kirk’s dying, by which the host criticized MAGA loyalists for weaponizing the tragedy. Kimmel famous, “In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.”
Trump, who has lengthy waged battle towards late-night hosts, predictably gloated on Fact Social, calling the suspension “Nice Information for America.” He additionally demanded NBC oust Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon.
