America's late-night TV hosts have rallied behind fellow comedian Jimmy Kimmel after he was suspended by ABC in a row over comments he made about the killing of Charlie Kirk. Stephen Colbert began his show by saying 'we are all Jimmy Kimmel', and declared the star's removal as a 'blatant assault on freedom of speech'. Seth Meyers voiced admiration for Kimmel, while Jon Stewart and Jimmy Fallon addressed the issue of free speech through satirical sketches where they seemingly had to praise Donald Trump.

This outpouring of support from Kimmel’s peers comes in response to President Trump’s recent statements threatening major networks with the revocation of licenses over perceived negativity. The president’s long-standing feud with media outlets has alarmed many in liberal circles, painting Kimmel's suspension as either an attack on free speech or a capitulation to Trump’s agenda.

Kimmel's comments regarding the circumstances surrounding Kirk's murder—where he criticized the right for 'trying to score political points'—led Brendan Carr, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), to label them as inappropriate, hinting at potential repercussions for misinforming the public.

The responses from conservative commentators were mixed, with some arguing Kimmel was perpetuating a false narrative and thus deserved the criticism. However, the prevailing sentiment among Kimmel's supporters was one of solidarity and a call to uphold the principles of free speech, encapsulated by Meyers who asserted, 'This is a pivotal... moment in our democracy... free speech is in the very First Amendment.'

As this controversy continues to unfold, opinions diverge sharply, revealing deep societal divisions surrounding media, freedom of expression, and political commentary.