Jimmy Kimmel’s show cancelled over Charlie Kirk remarks: Barack Obama, Jean Smart, Ben Stiller and others come out in anchor's support

Hollywood stars and industry leaders are standing firmly behind Jimmy Kimmel after ABC announced that Jimmy Kimmel Live would be suspended indefinitely. The network’s decision followed backlash over Kimmel’s comments on the death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, and an explicit warning from FCC Chair Brendan Carr, who threatened regulatory action against ABC and Disney.

The move quickly ignited outrage across the entertainment world, sparking a wave of solidarity from actors, comedians, and political figures who framed the cancellation as an attack on free speech. Emmy-winning actress Jean Smart condemned the suspension, writing, “What Jimmy said was FREE speech, not hate speech… What is happening to our country?” Julia Louis-Dreyfus echoed the sentiment, declaring, “I stand with @jimmykimmellive. I stand for Free Speech. I stand for Democracy. Shame on ABC.”

Former President Barack Obama also weighed in, criticising the administration’s pressure on media outlets. “After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level,” he said, warning against the chilling effect of regulatory threats.

A chorus of comedians added their voices. Wanda Sykes, Ben Stiller, Patton Oswalt, Rosie O’Donnell, and Marc Maron all issued statements of support, with O’Donnell blasting the move as “unacceptable” and Oswalt noting, “When freedom is under fire you can count on me to ramble and mutter incoherently.”

The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) also released a strong statement, calling the suspension a dangerous act of suppression.