Additional Coverage:
- Whoopi Goldberg and her ‘The View’ co-hosts finally broke their silence on Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension (businessinsider.com)
“The View” Hosts Speak Out Against Kimmel’s Suspension, Defend Free Speech
After two episodes of noticeable silence on the matter, “The View” hosts finally addressed Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension from ABC, vehemently denying any network censorship and defending Kimmel’s right to free speech.
“Did you all really think we weren’t going to talk about Jimmy Kimmel?” Whoopi Goldberg jokingly asked the audience at the start of Monday’s broadcast.
“No one silences us.” Goldberg clarified that the show’s delay in addressing the issue stemmed from a desire to allow Kimmel to speak first, a courtesy they also extended to Stephen Colbert during his recent controversy.
The hosts used the opportunity to champion the First Amendment. Goldberg emphasized the importance of defending free speech for everyone, stating, “We fight for everybody’s right to have freedom of speech because it means my speech is free.
It means your speech is free.” Sunny Hostin called freedom of speech the foundation of democracy, while Alyssa Farah Griffin stressed the importance of holding those in power accountable.
Ana Navarro expressed irony that the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a proponent of free speech, was being used as justification for silencing others, referencing the incident that triggered the controversy. Kimmel’s monologue on his late-night show, which poked fun at reactions to Kirk’s murder, drew criticism from FCC commissioner Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee.
Carr’s subsequent threats to revoke ABC licenses if the network continued to air Kimmel’s show led to Nexstar, an ABC affiliate company awaiting FCC approval for a major acquisition deal, pulling Kimmel’s show from its stations. ABC then confirmed Kimmel’s indefinite suspension.
While Kimmel has yet to publicly comment on the situation, former President Trump celebrated the news on social media, criticizing Kimmel’s talent and ratings. Meanwhile, Kimmel has received support from other celebrities and Democratic politicians.