Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert blast ABC over Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension, calls it ‘blatant censorship’

Colbert slams Trump after Jimmy Kimmel show suspension

ABC has suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely following pressure from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over Kimmel’s controversial remarks about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The move has drawn sharp reactions from fellow late-night hosts.

The official X (formerly Twitter) account of Jimmy Fallon’s show shared a video of the host reacting to the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

“Well guys, the big story is that Jimmy Kimmel was suspended by ABC after pressure from the FCC, leaving everyone thinking WTF. This morning I woke up to 100 text messages from my dad saying I’m sorry they cancelled your show. I go, that’s not me, that’s Jimmy Kimmel,” Fallon joked.

He added: “But to be honest with you all, I don’t know what’s going on. And no one does, but I do know Jimmy Kimmel, and he’s a decent, funny, and loving guy, and I hope he comes back. Yeah, a lot of people are worried that we won’t keep saying what we want to say or that we’ll be censored, but I’m going to cover the president’s trip to the UK just like I normally would.”

Jimmy reacts to ABC’s decision to suspend @JimmyKimmel after pressure from the FCC, leaving everyone thinking WTF? #FallonTonightpic.twitter.com/v5wLrPEAOM

— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) September 19, 2025

On Thursday’s edition of The Late Show, Stephen Colbert launched a strong defence of Kimmel, accusing President Donald Trump of pushing “blatant censorship.” Addressing his New York audience, Colbert declared: “Tonight we are all Jimmy Kimmel.” He continued: “Yesterday after threats from Trump’s FCC chair, ABC yanked Kimmel off the air indefinitely. That is blatant censorship.”

Colbert, who is preparing to end his own CBS run next year, went further: “With an autocrat, you cannot give an inch. I’ll say this for my network. They wouldn’t have done this. Now, regardless of what you think, that has already been done and how that looks, this is weak. This is blatant censorship.”

Late-night hosts across networks joined in condemning the decision, denouncing it as politically motivated. ABC’s suspension followed FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s threat to challenge the licenses of affiliates airing Kimmel’s show.

Colbert’s remarks came shortly after his own program was cut, following his criticism of Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, for settling a lawsuit brought by Trump over an interview with former vice president Kamala Harris.