In the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel found himself at the center of controversy, as his comments about the conservative activist's death led to his show's suspension. Following this on September 18, 2025, performers’ union SAG-AFTRA, issued a strong statement in support of Kimmel.“SAG-AFTRA condemns the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! … The decision to suspend airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! is the type of suppression and retaliation that endangers everyone’s freedoms,” SAG-AFTRA said in their statement . View this post on Instagram Instagram PostFor context, during the September 16 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! Kimmel addressed Charlie Kirk’s case, stating that supporters of President Donald Trump were “desperately trying to characterize” the 22-year-old suspect “as anything other than one of them.” He further added that while there was “grieving,” political groups were also using the tragedy to score points.His Charlie Kirk related comments then triggered swift debate online, and on Wednesday, September 17, an ABC spokesperson confirmed that Kimmel’s show would not air “indefinitely.”This decision from ABC sparked backlash, with SAG-AFTRA further emphasizing in their statement that free expression lay at the core of a functioning society. The union also argued that punishing artists for addressing controversial events was a dangerous precedent.“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. Democracy thrives when diverse points of view are expressed,” the union stated.It concluded the statement by reaffirming its broader commitment to both its members and the public, declaring that SAG-AFTRA would stand “with all media artists” and defend their “right to express their diverse points of view” as well as “everyone’s right to hear them.”Unions and celebrities defend Jimmy Kimmel after his show’s suspension over Charlie Kirk related remarksJimmy Kimmel (Image via Getty mages)The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! following the late-night host’s comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, sparked a fierce national debate on free expression. Many unions, actors, and fellow comedians also rallied behind Kimmel, voicing their support for him.After news broke that ABC had suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s show, the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) and Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) issued a joint statement on September 18.In their statement, the unions made clear that they stood by the comedian, stressing that free speech was meant to protect not only agreeable opinions but also provocative or unpopular ones.They emphasized that the ability to challenge, provoke, or disturb was central to freedom and should not be denied under pressure from power, violence, or corporate fear.“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. It is not to be denied. Not by violence, not by the abuse of governmental power, nor by acts of corporate cowardice,” they wrote.The statement further argued that suppressing dissent threatened democracy itself:“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. 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.”The unions also rebuked both government and corporate leaders, warning that those in power had forgotten the nation’s founding principles. They reminded employers that while writers had enriched them with their words, suppressing those voices would “impoverish the whole world.”The American Federation of Musicians (AFM), representing performers across the United States and Canada, also issued a statement, on September 17, 2025, echoing the concerns of the writers.In their statement, AFM president Tino Gagliardi accused the Trump administration of direct state interference, stating that Trump’s FCC had “identified speech it did not like and threatened ABC with extreme reprisals.”He further added that what was happening to Kimmel over Charlie Kirk related remarks, represted “state censorship,” stressing that it was happening “right here and right now” in America. Gagliardi further described the suspension as “a direct attack on free speech and artistic expression.”Jimmy Kimmel (Image via Getty mages)Beyond labor unions, celebrities also spoke out in support of Kimmel. Ben Stiller posted a brief but pointed remark on X, on September 18, writing:“This isn’t right.”Actress Jean Smart shared a photo with Kimmel on Instagram on the same day and said she was “horrified at the cancellation” of his show.She argued that what Kimmel had said about Charlie Kirk amounted to free speech, “not hate speech,” and criticized those who only defended expression “when it suits THEIR agenda.”While acknowledging that she disagreed with Charlie Kirk, Smart emphasized that his “shooting death sickened” her and should have disturbed “any decent human being.”Comedian Wanda Sykes, who had been scheduled to appear on the program the night it was suspended, also shared her views on Instagram on September 18. Taking aim at President Trump’s record, she quipped that he had not ended wars abroad but had instead “ended freedom of speech within his first year.”Former President Barack Obama also weighed in on ABC‘s decision to pause Jimmy Kimmel Live! from its schedule indefinitely, over the host's Charlie Kirk related comments. Obama warned that the Trump administration had taken the cancellation culture to “a new and dangerous level.”Obama wrote on X:“After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like.”So far Jimmy Kimmel himself has not issued any official statement regarding the cancellation of his show.Charlie Kirk, a podcast host and close ally of Donald Trump, was assassinated on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The shooting occurred around 12:20 p.m. as he was responding to a question about gun violence.The investigation into Charlie Kirk's assassination remains ongoing. His murder suspect, Tyler Robinson is currently being held without bail at Utah County Jail.