Over 400 Artists Sign ACLU Letter Condemning Jimmy Kimmel's Suspension
More than 400 artists have signed an ACLU open letter criticizing ABC's suspension of Jimmy Kimmel, citing concerns over free speech.
Over 400 artists, including Jennifer Aniston, Robert De Niro, and Tom Hanks, have signed an open letter organized by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) condemning ABC's suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. The letter describes the suspension as a "dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation" and urges Americans to defend their constitutional rights.
The suspension followed comments made by Kimmel regarding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr criticized Kimmel's remarks and suggested that broadcast licenses could be at risk if action was not taken against him. Subsequently, ABC affiliates Nexstar and Sinclair announced they would preempt Kimmel's show, leading ABC to suspend him indefinitely.
ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero stated, "We now find ourselves in a modern McCarthy era, facing exactly the type of heavy-handed government censorship our Constitution rightfully forbids."
The letter emphasizes that efforts to pressure artists, journalists, and others with retaliation for their speech "strike at the heart of what it means to live in a free country." It calls on all Americans to join in defending the right to speak freely.
Signatories include a diverse group of actors, musicians, writers, and directors, such as Jane Fonda, Selena Gomez, Olivia Rodrigo, Ben Stiller, Jamie Lee Curtis, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Keaton, Regina King, Diego Luna, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Natalie Portman, Maya Rudolph, Martin Short, and Kerry Washington.
The ACLU has a longstanding history of defending the First Amendment and protecting individuals' rights to free speech.