Former President Barack Obama has criticized what he described as government-driven cancel culture following the suspension of comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show.
The suspension came after Kimmel made controversial remarks linking the assassin of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk to supporters of President Donald Trump.
Obama voiced his concerns on X, where he shared an article about Kimmel’s suspension.
“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,” Obama wrote.
He added, “This is precisely the kind of government coercion that the First Amendment was designed to prevent — and media companies need to start standing up rather than capitulating to it.”
Kimmel came under scrutiny after his Monday monologue, where he said, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr responded to Kimmel’s comments, calling them “truly sick.”
Carr warned that ABC and its parent company Disney could face potential consequences, including possible action against their broadcast license.
He emphasized that broadcasters had a responsibility not to mislead the public.
Carr noted that suspension was one possible outcome if networks failed to address the situation, according to Breitbart News.
Nexstar president Andrew Alford also issued a statement, describing Kimmel’s remarks as “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse.”
He added that the show would be replaced until “cooler heads prevail.”
The family of the alleged shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, has publicly rejected the idea that Robinson was tied to the political right.
Relatives have said Robinson disliked Kirk and held left-leaning views.
They also noted that Robinson, who was reportedly in a relationship with a trans-identifying roommate, lived with someone described as hating “conservatives and Christians.”
Kimmel did not issue an on-air apology following his remarks.
ABC and Disney ultimately announced the indefinite suspension of the late-night program.
President Donald Trump reacted to the decision on Truth Social.
“Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done,” Trump posted.
Trump added further criticism of Kimmel’s show and compared its ratings to other late-night programs.
“Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible. That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!! President DJT,” he wrote.
Donald Trump Jr. also weighed in on the controversy, addressing critics who argued the suspension reflected an attack on free speech.
“Consequence culture,” Trump Jr. said, describing the shift he sees as left-leaning figures losing their jobs after controversial statements.
