400 Hollywood Stars Rally Against Jimmy Kimmel Suspension, Speak Out for Free Speech

A group of more than 400 Hollywood celebrities has come together to defend free speech and protest Disney’s decision to remove Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show from its schedule.

The open letter, organized with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), warns that the suspension of the host could have serious consequences for Americans’ right to speak freely.

Among the signatories are Tom Hanks, Jennifer Aniston, Meryl Streep, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jason Bateman, and Martin Short, along with Ariana DeBose, Jane Fonda, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Regina King, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Diego Luna, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Natalie Portman. Many of these actors have connections to Disney projects, including Marvel films and Hulu series.

Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the ACLU, emphasized the seriousness of the situation. “We now find ourselves in a modern McCarthy era, facing exactly the type of heavy-handed government censorship our Constitution rightfully forbids. The silencing of Jimmy Kimmel and jawboning of media outlets through lawsuits and threats to their licenses evoke dark memories of the 1950s,”

Romero said in a prepared statement. “We must remember, however, that Senator McCarthy was ultimately disgraced and neutralized once Americans mobilized and stood up to him. We must do the same today because, together, our voices are louder and, together, we will fight to be heard.”

The controversy began after Disney’s ABC announced it would take Kimmel’s show off the air indefinitely. The move came after Nexstar Media, one of the largest U.S. TV station owners, said it planned to pre-empt the program following Kimmel’s comments about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Sinclair, another major station owner, also indicated it would not air the show.

The letter highlights concerns about efforts to pressure artists, journalists, and public figures through retaliation, saying such actions “strike at the heart of what it means to live in a free country.” The statement closes with a call for Americans to stand up and defend free speech.

This demonstration of support from the entertainment industry shows the depth of concern over potential censorship and the chilling effect it could have on public discourse.

This collective response from Hollywood is a bold statement about protecting freedom of expression. It raises important questions about the balance between corporate decisions and First Amendment rights. What do you think about these celebrities speaking out for Kimmel and free speech? Share your thoughts in the comments.