Piers Morgan wonders why Jimmy Kimmel is being "heralded as some kind of free speech martyr" after he "lied about Charlie Kirk's assassin"

British media personality Piers Morgan claimed that Jimmy Kimmel "lied about Charlie Kirk's assassination" and shouldn't be heralded as a "free speech martyr." Morgan's comments came after Kimmel's popular late-night talk show was cancelled over his controversial comments on Kirk.

On September 18, Piers Morgan took to X to share his thoughts about Jimmy Kimmel's comments on Charlie Kirk. Morgan notably criticized Kimmel's indication that MAGA activists were gaining clout from Kirk's assassination. He wrote:

"Jimmy Kimmel lied about Charlie Kirk’s assassin being MAGA, this caused understandable outrage all over America, prompted TV station owners to say they wouldn’t air him, and he’s now been suspended by his employers. Why is he being heralded as some kind of free speech martyr?"

Morgan's comments came after ABC suspended the Kimmel's talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live! after his controversial comments about Charlie Kirk on Monday (September 15). While on air, Kimmel said:

"The MAGA Gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it."

Moreover, Kimmel also made fun of President Donald Trump's reaction to Kirk's death, stating that it is not "how an adult grieves the murder of someone he calls a friend". He said the reaction was similar to "a four-year-old mourns a goldfish." After ABC suspended Kimmel's talk show, Trump celebrated the decision in a post on social media.

Piers Morgan claims Jimmy Kimmel celebrated "endless conservative stars’ cancellations" following comments on Charlie Kirk's death

Carol Burnett Hand And Footprint In The Cement Ceremony At TCL Chinese Theatre - Source: Getty

In a follow-up tweet posted September 18 on X, Piers Morgan blamed Jimmy Kimmel for allegedly celebrating the cancellation of many "conservative stars' cancellations." He quoted a video where Kimmel was seen speaking about fellow media personality Tucker Carlson being fired from FOX, writing:

"REMINDER: Jimmy Kimmel has celebrated endless conservative stars’ cancellations… with savage glee."

In his monologue on Monday night, Kimmel criticized President Trump and Vice President JD Vance regarding the reaction to Charlie Kirk's death. The late-night talk show host claimed the MAGA (Make America Great Again) gang has been capitalizing on his death.

"Many in Maga-land are working very hard to capitalise on the murder of Charlie Kirk. While our side of the aisle certainly has its crazies, it is a statistical fact that most of the lunatics in American politics today are proud members of the far left. And by ‘statistical fact’, he means ‘complete bullsh*t.'," he said.

Kimmel also posed a question to JD Vance, saying:

"Here’s a question JD Vance might be able to answer: who wanted to hang the guy who was vice president before you? Was that the liberal left? Or the toothless army who stormed the Capitol on January 6?"

After his comments, ABC's parent company, Nextar Communications Group, issued a statement calling them "offensive and insensitive", especially in a "critical time in our national political discourse." ABC then officially suspended Kimmel's talk show.

"[We] do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located," they added.

While Piers Morgan has shared his views on the side of ABC and supported Kimmel's show's cancellation, many celebrities have raised concern about free speech in the United States. Actor Ben Stiller wrote on X that the decision "isn't right". Emmy-winning actress Jean Smart also criticized the decision, mentioning that Kimmel's views were "free speech" and not "hate speech."

Writers Guild of America (WGA), an organization known to have led a strong movement to protect artists' rights in 2023, also condemned ABC's decision to stop Kimmel's show. They considered it a violation of the constitutional right to free spech in the United States.

As of writing, Jimmy Kimmel has not officially commented on ABC's decision to suspend his show.

About the author

Pratyasha is a Pop Culture and a European Football writer for Sportskeeda. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature, and has over 3 years of experience in the pop culture industry. Throughout her career, Pratyasha has always emphasized detailed background checks, and believes in verifying all information regardless of how correct it may seem.

Pratyasha is an ardent admirer of Lionel Messi and has followed his journey since she was a kid; he inspires her with his dedication and humility. She has grown up watching, living, and breathing Satyajit Ray's cinema, which she believes is timeless. She loves Taylor Swift’s music and thinks she's a lyrical genius, and also admires Shah Rukh Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, and Deepika Padukone.

When Pratyasha's off the clock, she enjoys reading books and listening to music. During the football season, she is usually busy watching football matches late at night when Barcelona are playing.

Know More

Edited by Pratyasha Sarkar