“Suppression of free speech and retaliation for speaking out on significant issues of public concern run counter to the fundamental rights we all rely on,” stated SAG-AFTRA on behalf of its actors.
“Democracy thrives when diverse points of view are expressed,” they continued. “The decision to suspend airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! is the type of suppression and retaliation that endangers everyone’s freedoms. SAG-AFTRA stands with all media artists and defends their right to express their diverse points of view, and everyone’s right to hear them.”
The Writers Guild of America West and Writers Guild of America East united for their statement—
“The right to speak our minds and to disagree with each other – to disturb, even – is at the very heart of what it means to be a free people,” they said. “It is not to be denied. Not by violence, not by the abuse of governmental power, nor by acts of corporate cowardice.”
“As a Guild, we stand united in opposition to anyone who uses their power and influence to silence the voices of writers, or anyone who speaks in dissent,” they continued. “If free speech applied only to ideas we like, we needn’t have bothered to write it into the Constitution.”
“What we have signed on to – painful as it may be at times – is the freeing agreement to disagree,” they went on. “Shame on those in government who forget this founding truth. As for our employers, our words have made you rich. Silencing us impoverishes the whole world.”
Yesterday, ABC announced that it would be pulling “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” off the air indefinitely after he made some incredibly tame remarks about the death of Charlie Kirk.
“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” said Kimmel.
In truth, we still don’t know what the alleged shooters political ideology is, but it is true that Republicans have been clamoring to exploit this murder for political gain. Kimmel’s cancellation proves it. Donald Trump has been calling for Kimmel to be taken off the air for ages because Kimmel has consistently criticized and mocked him. The Kirk remarks provided the pretext for what ABC has long wanted to do: cave to Trump to curry favor with the White House.
The firing is rendered even more farcical when one considers Kimmel’s comments last week in which he called the killing “senseless.” He also posted an Instagram message sending love to Kirk’s family as well as victims of gun violence across the country. He has been nothing but empathetic and gracious throughout this tragedy and still conservatives are out for his blood.
The irony in all of this is that Kirk was supposedly a “free speech warrior” but now his death is being used to justify an all out assault on free speech. Republicans don’t actually care about principles or decency. All they care about in the MAGA era is the raw exercise of power against their political enemies.
About the Author
