(NewsNation) — The Writers Guild of America threw its support Wednesday behind Jimmy Kimmel and his writing staff after television executives pulled the plug on Kimmel’s late-night talk show for comments he made about Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
Kimmel on Monday suggested Kirk’s killer was part of President Trump’s conservative political base. On Wednesday, FCC Chair Brendan Carr signaled his commission would take action. Nexstar, owner of NewsNation, announced plans to preempt Kimmel’s program on its ABC affiliates; then Disney-owned ABC said it was pulling “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” indefinitely.
The WGA, which represents more than 20,000 writers in entertainment and media, characterized the punitive actions as an attack on free speech.
Charlie Kirk comments got them fired: Do they have First Amendment protection?
“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,” the union said in a statement Wednesday evening.
“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.
“Shame on those in government who forget this founding truth. As for our employers, our words have made you rich. Silencing us impoverishes the whole world.”
Last week’s assassination of Kirk, 31, a conservative activist who co-founded Turning Point USA, has sparked renewed debate about political violence in the U.S. and who is to blame.
Charlie Kirk’s widow vows to continue his work after assassination
Trump, who has blamed the political left for inciting violence, rejoiced at Kimmel’s removal from the airwaves. He frequently has lashed out at Kimmel and his major-network colleagues, who have roasted Trump for his policies and personality.
Fallout from Charlie Kirk commentary
Before Kimmel’s remarks this week, other commentators — celebrities and noncelebrities alike — have faced consequences for remarks they made about Kirk or the circumstances of his death.
MSNBC political analyst Matthew Dowd was fired shortly after making on-air comments amid the first reports that Kirk had been shot. He apologized and said he wasn’t blaming Kirk for the attack.
Some critics had long characterized Kirk as a divisive figure because of his conservative and religious beliefs, but others, including many Democrats, praised Kirk for being willing to converse with opponents. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who is said to be eyeing a 2028 White House bid, featured Kirk on the first episode of his podcast earlier this year.
Kimmel, who was seen Wednesday leaving the El Capitan Theatre where his show is taped, did not respond to a request for comment, Reuters reported.
Sinclair, the nation’s largest ABC affiliate group, said it would not air Kimmel’s show, even if ABC decides to bring it back, unless “appropriate steps” were taken. Sinclair called on Kimmel to apologize and said it would air a tribute to Kirk in Kimmel’s time slot Friday, Reuters said.
