U.S. TV Show Halted Under Trump’s Pressure Revived by Hollywood Celebrities

He lashed out, calling them a completely talentless host

The U.S. network ABC announced on September 17 (local time) that it would suspend indefinitely its popular talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live!, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel (57), after he made comments criticizing the administration while referring to the murder of conservative Trump supporter Charlie Kirk.

However, in an unprecedented turn of events, the network decided to reinstate the show just one week later.

According to U.S. media, during the September 15 broadcast, Kimmel remarked:

“The MAGA crowd is desperately trying to turn this tragedy into political gain,”

and went on to mock Trump’s reaction, saying:

“This is not how an adult mourns the killing of someone they called a friend — it’s how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.”

Kimmel, a comedian who has hosted the Academy Awards four times and is known for his biting humor toward attending celebrities, was likely jokingly targeting Trump and MAGA supporters. However, his remarks triggered fierce backlash from conservatives, leading ABC’s parent company, The Walt Disney Company, to announce the show’s suspension on September 17.

President Donald Trump harshly slammed Kimmel as:

“A completely talentless host,”

and praised ABC for “making the right decision.”

He even went so far as to urge NBC to fire Jimmy Fallon (host of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon) and Seth Meyers (host of Late Night with Seth Meyers).

According to Hollywood insiders, the reason ABC took the rare step of suspending Kimmel’s show was pressure from FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, who reportedly suggested the network’s broadcast license could be revokedfollowing Kimmel’s comments. ABC announced the suspension only hours after Carr’s warning.

Meanwhile, Hollywood erupted in protest.

More than 400 top stars, including Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, Selena Gomez, Natalie Portman, Jennifer Aniston, and Ben Affleck, signed an open letter released on September 22 by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), demanding the protection of constitutional free speech rights, according to Page Six.

The ACLU’s letter stated:

“Jimmy Kimmel’s show was taken off the air after the government hinted at retaliatory action. This marks a dark moment for freedom of speech in our country.”

and further declared:

“We, the people, must never accept threats to free expression from our government.”

CBS’s “The Late Show,” known for Trump criticism, to end in May next year

Angelina Jolie also speaks out

At a press conference following the premiere of her new film Couture at the San Sebastián International Film Festivalin Spain on September 21, Angelina Jolie said:

“I love my country, but I cannot accept what it has become.”

She added:

“Anything that divides or restricts individual expression and freedom is extremely dangerous, wherever it happens.”

Meanwhile, the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) issued a statement declaring:

“The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! represents a form of repression and retaliation that threatens the freedom of all people. SAG-AFTRA stands in solidarity with all media artists, defending their right to express diverse opinions — and everyone’s right to hear them.”

Just hours after the ACLU’s open letter and the wave of celebrity signatures became public on September 22, ABC’s parent company, The Walt Disney Company, announced the show would return to air on the 23rd, marking an extraordinary reinstatement just one week after suspension.

A Hollywood insider explained:

“In addition to the celebrity petition, large-scale protest demonstrations began forming outside ABC and Disney headquarters. Facing serious backlash, the company reversed course and decided to continue the broadcast.”

In its official statement, Disney said that the suspension had been made:

“To avoid further fueling emotions in an already tense national climate last Wednesday. Some of the comments were deemed inappropriate and lacking sensitivity, so we chose to pause production temporarily.”

The company continued:

“After several days of careful discussions with Jimmy (Kimmel), we’ve decided to resume the show starting Tuesday, the 23rd.”

On September 23, Kimmel returned to Jimmy Kimmel Live! and, according to US Weekly, received a standing ovationfrom the studio audience.

Speaking emotionally about the controversial remarks, he said:

“I never intended to make light of a young man’s murder. There was nothing funny about it. Nor did I mean to single out any group.”

But he continued firmly:

“It is unacceptable to restrict what can be said on television.”

Kimmel also referenced the announcement that CBS’s “The Late Show,” hosted by Stephen Colbert, a known Trump critic, will end in May 2026, remarking:

“Trump succeeded in driving Colbert out of CBS, and now he’s targeting me. And now, he’s openly calling on NBC to fire Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers — along with hundreds of Americans who work on their shows.”

He appealed to viewers:

“If that happens — or even shows signs of happening — I want you to raise your voices tenfold.”

That night’s broadcast drew 6.3 million viewers, the show’s highest ratings ever recorded.

As President Trump’s authoritarian tendencies appear to be intensifying, the Jimmy Kimmel Live! suspension saga may have narrowly preserved America’s democracy and freedom of speech — but, as Kimmel himself warned, the battle is far from over.

Trump lashed out on social media, writing:

“Unbelievable that fake news ABC brought Jimmy Kimmel back.”

“A 99% Democrat-supporting garbage show.”

He also suggested that legal action against ABC was being considered.

In any case, the Kimmel incident should not be dismissed as someone else’s problem. The involvement of the ACLU, SAG-AFTRA, and numerous actors and entertainers helped drive the outcome — and it highlights the need for systems, even in Japan, that allow artists to speak freely without restriction.