Hollywood is buzzing after a host of beloved stars, including ‘Star Wars’ legend Mark Hamill and Marvel’s Pedro Pascal and Mark Ruffalo, publicly voiced their support for talk show host Jimmy Kimmel following his controversial suspension by ABC. This collective outcry highlights a deepening rift over free speech and alleged political intimidation within the entertainment industry.
The controversy ignited on September 17, 2025, when ABC indefinitely suspended ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ The decision came after Kimmel’s on-air monologue regarding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk prompted threats of regulatory action from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Many view this as a worrying sign of the Trump administration’s efforts to curb the free speech of its critics.
During his contentious monologue, the 57-year-old Kimmel asserted that the “Maga gang” was “desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them” and “doing everything they can” to “score political points from it.” He further drew a sharp comparison, stating that Trump’s reaction to Kirk’s death was “how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.”
Following Kimmel’s remarks, FCC chair Brendan Carr publicly condemned the host’s “sickest conduct possible,” warning that Disney-owned networks like ABC could face “additional work for the FCC” if they didn’t “change conduct and take action.” This sentiment was echoed by U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested that TV networks critical of him should have their licenses revoked. Trump claimed, “I have read some place that the networks were 97% against me, again, 97% negative, and yet I won and easily [in last year’s election]. They give me only bad publicity [and] press. I mean, they’re getting a licence. I would think maybe their licence should be taken away.”
In response, a growing number of past and present Disney employees have rallied behind Kimmel, openly criticizing ABC, Disney, the FCC, and the Trump administration.
Mark Hamill, famously known as Luke Skywalker, took to social media to share his thoughts: “Giving a bully your lunch money is only a temporary downpayment for future bullying. We ALL need to step up for the first amendment. By-the-way, for the record, this ex-Disney employee finds Jimmy Kimmel very talented and funny.” This statement cleverly mirrored a previous comment from former Disney CEO Michael Eisner, who had also denounced Kimmel’s suspension as a result of the Trump administration’s “out-of-control intimidation.” Eisner had previously stated, “Where has all the leadership gone? If not for university presidents, law firm managing partners, and corporate chief executives standing up against bullies, who then will step up for the first amendment? The ‘suspending indefinitely’ of Jimmy Kimmel immediately after the Chairman of the FCC’s aggressive yet hollow threatening of the Disney Company is yet another example of out-of-control intimidation. Maybe the Constitution should have said, ‘Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, except in one’s political or financial self-interest.’ By-the-way, for the record, this ex-CEO finds Jimmy Kimmel very talented and funny.”
While Hamill, a vocal critic of Trump, has indicated his ‘Star Wars’ acting days are behind him, other supportive actors like Pedro Pascal and Mark Ruffalo remain deeply entrenched in Disney projects. Pascal, who portrayed Reed Richards in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ and is slated for next year’s ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, also leads ‘The Mandalorian’ series and will appear in ‘The Mandalorian & Grogu’ film. On September 18, Pascal expressed his solidarity with Kimmel on social media, urging, “Defend #FreeSpeech Defend #DEMOCRACY.”
Mark Ruffalo, known for his role as Bruce Banner / The Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is set to return in next year’s ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’. Although his presence in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is not confirmed, it’s widely expected that his character will feature in future MCU installments, including the sequel ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’. On September 20, Ruffalo posted, cautioning that Disney’s stock would “go down a lot further if they cancel” Kimmel’s show permanently. He concluded, “Disney does not want to be the ones that broke America.”
Other Marvel talents, including Aunt May actress Marisa Tomei and ‘She-Hulk’ star Tatiana Maslany, have also publicly criticized Disney’s handling of the situation.
Conversely, former President Trump reiterated his support for ABC’s decision, dismissing concerns about free speech and instead citing Kimmel’s show ratings. He asserted, “Well, Jimmy Kimmel was fired because he had bad ratings more than anything else, and he said a horrible thing about a great gentleman known as Charlie Kirk. And Jimmy Kimmel is not a talented person. And they should have fired him a long time ago. So you can call that free speech or not.”
Former U.S. President Barack Obama also weighed in, tweeting a statement that voiced his apprehension: “After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like.”
This ongoing debate underscores the tension between media organizations, political pressures, and the fundamental right to free expression in the highly visible world of Hollywood.