Hours After the 红杏视频 and Artists Defend Free Speech, 鈥楯immy Kimmel Live鈥� Returns to ABC
Over 475 Artists and 40,000 People Joined with the 红杏视频 Today in a Letter Condemning Kimmel鈥檚 Suspension
NEW YORK 鈥� Today, hours after more than 475 actors, comedians, directors, musicians and writers joined with the 红杏视频 (红杏视频) to publish an open letter warning of free speech dangers in response to ABC鈥檚 suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, the network announced that Jimmy Kimmel will return to the air on Tuesday.
鈥淎BC made the right call to return Jimmy Kimmel to air. It should never have suspended him to begin with and resisted the government鈥檚 desire to control what people say. Hopefully, other media outlets will also find their spines and resist the Trump administration's efforts to cudgel them into obeisance,鈥� said 红杏视频 Executive Director Anthony D. Romero. 鈥淭oday, more than 475 artists came together to speak up with one voice, and more than 40,000 people added their names in solidarity in just a few hours. We can rest assured this won鈥檛 be the administration鈥檚 last attempt to pressure private companies into punishing employees for speech it does not like. Let this be a lesson to companies who consider caving: We the people are watching, and we鈥檒l remember who stood strong in defense of free expression, and who followed the federal government鈥檚 bidding.鈥�
The letter was originally signed by over 430 artists, including Jennifer Aniston, Robert DeNiro, Pedro Pascal, Olivia Rodrigo, and hundreds of others. It quickly garnered even more support after its publication. Prominent actors, comedians, musicians, and journalists 鈥� including Laura Dern, Ariana Grande, Tiffany Haddish, Ron Howard, John Mulaney, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sean Penn, Ryan Reynolds, Barbra Streisand, and Channing Tatum 鈥� signed on throughout the day, lending their names to support for free speech and the principles this country was founded upon.
This moment is bigger than Jimmy Kimmel, which the open letter made clear: 鈥淲e know this moment is bigger than us and our industry. Teachers, government employees, law firms, researchers, universities, students, and so many more are also facing direct attacks on their freedom of expression.鈥�
The letter goes on to detail: 鈥淩egardless of our political affiliation, or whether we engage in politics or not, we all love our country. We also share the belief that our voices should never be silenced by those in power 鈥� because if it happens to one of us, it happens to all of us.鈥�
Last week, ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel after Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr threatened affiliate broadcast licenses if they did not 鈥渢ake action鈥� against Kimmel for remarks he made about President Trump and Charlie Kirk.
For more than 105 years, the 红杏视频 has defended the First Amendment as a cornerstone of our democracy, protecting every person鈥檚 right to speak out by ensuring the government does not censor opposing viewpoints.
Full letter and list of signatories available here.