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Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension from ABC over controversial remarks has sparked fierce reactions in the entertainment world. Among the strongest defenders is Bill Maher, who, in a striking moment of solidarity, denounced the decision on his HBO show and pointed to deeper issues of free speech and corporate appeasement.
Bill Maher publicly backs Jimmy Kimmel
On the September 19 episode of Real Time on HBO, Bill Maher didn’t mince words. “Jimmy, pal, I am with you, I support you,” he said in his opening, standing firmly with the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, who was suspended indefinitely by ABC. Maher, who knows a thing or two about fallout—his own show, Politically Incorrect, was canceled by ABC in 2001 after remarks made shortly after 9/11—took a wry tone: “If this firing goes for you the way it did for me, you’ll get 23 years on a better network.”
For anyone who remembers Maher’s fall from the Disney umbrella, his reference to no longer pretending to like Disneyland hits bluntly. But the humor wasn’t used to deflect—Maher was pointing to a recurring pattern: networks retreating at the first sign of controversy, regardless of intent or nuance.
What triggered the suspension?
During a recent monologue, Kimmel made critical remarks about Charlie Kirk and his supporters, referencing an incident involving Tyler Robinson, who allegedly shot Kirk. Kimmel’s tone was biting, as it often is, and it didn’t go down well with everyone. Most notably, the criticism grew loud enough for Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr to step in, threatening ABC’s broadcasting license. In response, some affiliates reportedly pushed back, pressuring the network to act. To read Gwen Stefani headlines magical 2025 Disney Christmas Parade
ABC pulled that night’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and announced an indefinite suspension. According to insiders, Kimmel had planned to respond to the outcry directly on air—not with an apology, but by explaining his perspective. That opportunity never came.
Watching this reaction unfold, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy. Whether or not you agree with what Kimmel said, the decision to silence him so abruptly raises bigger questions than the ones his monologue did.
Maher critiques ABC and the silence of others
While Maher acknowledged he didn’t agree with everything Kimmel said, he made it clear: this isn’t about the specifics of the joke—it’s about principle. “He should not lose his job,” Maher insisted, calling out what he sees as a dangerous overreaction from a network not known for standing firm under pressure.
He also took aim at the broader silence within ABC. Notably, the panelists on The View didn’t address the controversy. Maher’s dig was sharp: “ABC stands for ‘Always Be Caving’.” It’s the kind of phrasing that lands not because it’s funny, but because it feels, unfortunately, plausible. It recalls other moments when networks, fearing outrage, made sudden decisions at the expense of creative freedom.
Support pouring in from across the entertainment industry
The reaction from the late-night world has been swift and unified. Hosts like Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers have reportedly expressed unease about the suspension. The most powerful words may have come from David Letterman, who, during a panel at the Atlantic Festival, referred to ABC’s move as “managed media” and flatly said it was “no good.” To read Toho expands into Europe with bold anime distribution moves
Some of the notable voices who’ve sided with Kimmel:
- Jay Leno, calling for networks to give their hosts space to challenge ideas
- Pedro Pascal, posting support for Kimmel on social media
- Damon Lindelof, saying he won’t work with ABC or Disney until the suspension is lifted
For someone like Lindelof, a key figure at ABC with shows like Lost in his past, that’s not a throwaway statement. It signals a real fracture between creators and the studio system when speech becomes the battleground.
Where does this leave Jimmy Kimmel Live?
Since launching in 2003, Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been a late-night mainstay. It replaced Politically Incorrect, ironically enough, and helped reshape the tone of late-night from casual entertainment to something more personal, more satirical, and often more pointed. To see it shut down—not by low ratings or fatigue, but suddenly, amid an unresolved controversy—feels like a blow to that entire evolution.
We don’t yet know what comes next. ABC hasn’t given a timetable, and for now, Kimmel is silent. But the reaction, from peers and fans alike, speaks volumes. Even when people disagree with the words, they recognize the danger in silencing the voice.
I’m not here to say Kimmel was entirely right. But I do worry deeply about what it means when one risky joke can get a show pulled. For fans of late-night—not just Kimmel’s, but the whole genre—it’s hard not to feel the air getting thinner.
