A wave of concern swept through the late-night television community on Thursday as prominent hosts Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, and David Letterman expressed grave fears about the state of free speech. Their alarm comes after ABC unexpectedly suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s popular talk show, a move widely perceived as buckling under pressure from the Trump administration.
During a powerful monologue on his own nightly program, Stephen Colbert declared a unified stance, stating, “Tonight, we are all Jimmy Kimmel.” He unequivocally labeled ABC’s decision to “indefinitely” remove Kimmel’s show as “blatant censorship,” sending a clear message of defiance.
Colbert didn’t mince words, warning, “With an autocrat, you cannot give an inch.” He further admonished ABC, suggesting their action to appease the administration was “woefully naive,” humorously adding, “And clearly they’ve never read the children’s book If You Give a Mouse a Kimmel.”
Meanwhile, Jon Stewart opened his program with a satirical flourish. A public address announcer introduced “the all-new, government-approved ‘Daily Show’,” featuring its “patriotically obedient host,” Stewart himself.
On “The Tonight Show,” Jimmy Fallon expressed his bewilderment, stating, “I don’t know what’s going on. And no one does.” Despite the uncertainty, he praised Kimmel as “a decent, funny, and loving guy” and voiced hope for his return. Fallon’s subsequent pledge not to be censored was comically undermined by a voiceover, which layered overtly complimentary, government-friendly language over his remarks.
These strong reactions from current late-night personalities followed earlier sharp criticism from a legend in the field, David Letterman.
Speaking at The Atlantic Festival in Lower Manhattan, Letterman delivered a blunt assessment: “You can’t go around firing somebody because you’re fearful or trying to suck up to an authoritarian, a criminal administration in the Oval Office. That’s just not how this works.”
The controversy began Wednesday night when ABC announced the “indefinite” suspension of Kimmel’s show. This decision came shortly after Brendan Carr, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, publicly condemned Kimmel’s comments regarding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Carr had suggested potential FCC action against ABC affiliates, stating, “These companies can find ways to change conduct and take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or there’s going to be additional work for the F.C.C. ahead.”
Carr’s remarks echoed a broader conservative outcry, which accused Kimmel of distorting the political leanings of Tyler Robinson, the individual charged in Kirk’s assassination. On his Monday show, Kimmel had claimed that supporters of former President Trump were “desperately trying” to distance themselves from Robinson, implying he was “anything other than one of them.” However, Utah officials later indicated that Robinson’s views had recently veered towards the left.
This sudden suspension ignited a fierce backlash from liberals, who swiftly condemned the network for what they called censorship and capitulation to political pressure from the Trump administration.
By Thursday, the collective voices of Colbert, Stewart, Letterman, and even Fallon (albeit more subtly), had swelled the ranks of those criticizing the network’s decision.
Colbert specifically ridiculed Carr’s public statement emphasizing the need to challenge programming that supposedly failed to uphold “community values.”
With characteristic wit, Colbert retorted, “Well, you know what my community values are, buster? Freedom of speech.”
In a notable moment, Colbert even revived his beloved “Stephen Colbert” persona from “The Colbert Report” — the self-important conservative political commentator — to highlight the absurdity of the situation.
Jon Stewart’s opening act saw him transform into a visibly stressed, pro-government sycophant, delivering a performance that extended its commentary beyond just Kimmel’s predicament.
Stewart, in character, mused, “Some naysayers may argue that this administration’s speech concerns are merely a cynical ploy, a thin gruel of a ruse, a smokescreen to obscure an unprecedented consolidation of power and unitary intimidation.”
After a deliberate pause, he continued, “Some people would say that… not me though. I think it’s great,” showcasing his signature satirical style.
These strong public statements underscore the deep sense of solidarity among the long-standing community of late-night hosts.
This mutual support isn’t new; in previous months, after CBS announced the cancellation of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” many hosts rallied behind him. Notably, before the Emmy Awards, Jimmy Kimmel even displayed a billboard in Los Angeles campaigning for Colbert to win “Best Talk Show,” an award Colbert ultimately secured.
However, this unified front doesn’t represent the entire late-night landscape.
For instance, on his Fox News program Thursday night, Greg Gutfeld revisited the discussion around Kimmel, having previously labeled him a “clown” just the night before.
“While some say it’s an attack on free speech, others believe it’s an excuse to unload Jimmy due to his poor ratings and the cost to keep him on,” he said.