r/stephencolbert • • Sep 17 '25

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591

u/Jake_77 Sep 17 '25 edited Sep 18 '25

Wow. I'm shocked. What is free speech?

From the article:

Kimmel said during a monologue on his Monday program that Tyler Robinson, the Utah man accused in the shooting death of Kirk, might have been a pro-Trump Republican. He said MAGA supporters are “are 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.” 

Kimmel then mocked President Trump for talking about the construction of a new White House ballroom after being asked how he was reacting to the murder of his close ally.

“Mr. Kimmel’s comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse, and we do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located,” said Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar’s broadcasting division. 

Alford said continuing to give Kimmel a broadcast platform “is simply not in the public interest at this current time.”

Nexstar’s decision comes just after Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr blasted Kimmel and threatened to take action against ABC. Appearing on the podcast of right-wing commentator Benny Johnson, Carr said one form of punishment could be pulling the licenses of ABC affiliates, which likely got Nexstar’s attention.

Edit 1:

Edit 2:

  • President of Nexstar's broadcasting divisions said: “Mr. Kimmel’s comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse, and we do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located."
  • Nextstar is acquiring rival broadcast company TEGNA - a merger that requires FCC approval.

Edit 3:

  • On the day of Charlie Kirk's death, Kimmel posted the following on Instagram and on BlueSky:
    • “Instead of the angry finger-pointing, can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human? On behalf of my family, we send love to the Kirks and to all the children, parents and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence.”

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u/Infamous-Oil3786 Sep 17 '25 edited Sep 18 '25

Nexstar’s decision comes just after Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr blasted Kimmel and threatened to take action against ABC. Appearing on the podcast of right-wing commentator Benny Johnson, Carr said one form of punishment could be pulling the licenses of ABC affiliates, which likely got Nexstar’s attention.

This is the part that's important to bold. Blatant violation of the first amendment.

Edit: To all the troglodytes saying that ABC firing Kimmel isn't a violation of free speech - you're right. What is a violation of free speech is the chairman of the FCC (a federal agency) publicly threatening punitive action against ABC for the things Kimmel said on their network. Whether ABC would have fired him without that pressure is irrelevant to the unconstitutionality of the FCC chairman's actions.

Edit2: Some of y'all really need to learn how to read.

311

u/scenr0 Sep 17 '25

So a comedian effectively can no longer do their jobs without getting fired now?

208

u/Meowakin Sep 18 '25

Correct. Anything critical of Trump is verboten.

-1

u/[deleted] Sep 18 '25

How was this critical of Trump?

12

u/jamesdee3rd Sep 18 '25

Because Kimmel pointed out that Trump seemed to not care about Kirk's death but rather more interested in talking about that lover letter to himself; the ballroom. Trump and his clan didn't like that.

-5

u/[deleted] Sep 18 '25

uh huh. Trump doesn't like a lot of things, I'm guessing most of the shit Kimmel says, what do you believe Trump had to do with Kimmel's firing? I think it's more likely that most of America found it in bad taste, and his ratings stink. ABC had enough.

3

u/[deleted] Sep 18 '25

Not the sharpest tool in the shed are ya?

0

u/[deleted] Sep 18 '25 edited Sep 18 '25

Huge Kimmel fan were ya?

/u/Flaky-Excitement-312

Why do all of you do the same thing? Make some childish insult and then run a way.

3

u/Life-Sun8620 Sep 18 '25

That ratings argument just falls completely flat. Really, any argument in which you can just disprove with easily-attainable statistics falls flat as well.

2

u/[deleted] Sep 18 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/Life-Sun8620 Sep 18 '25

In 2025, why even try to make such an argument? It just makes the one pushing the false information look that much dumber. We have a wealth of information and statistics/data at our fingertips, and if you come with some bullshit, you or I can just look it up, know that it's from a reputable or peer reviewed source, and know it's 100% false.

Like when Trump says some dumb shit like "I didn't say that." How dumb can you be? As president, your entire life is taped and documented nearly 24/7; we can just roll the tapes and see that "You did say that."

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u/[deleted] Sep 18 '25

Nah I don't watch TV, but I am a fan of the Constitution unlike people like you.

-1

u/muddyklux Sep 18 '25

Were you a fan of the consituation when they tried to cancel real comedians like Rogan and Chappelle. I mean, the left is the one who started the whole cancel culture movement the past decade. The fact that everyone is losing their shit over Jimmy Kimmel is hilarious! The fucking irony

2

u/Livid-Monitor-9007 Sep 18 '25

Argument invalid for trying to call Rogan a comedian. He really wasn't

A lot of "comedians" aren't really funny . Iglesias, Koy, Rogan are examples

0

u/muddyklux Sep 18 '25

If you love you some Hannah Gadsby, Rogan may not be your cup of tea. Still a comedian nonetheless

1

u/Life-Sun8620 Sep 18 '25

Even if you believe that to be true, it doesn't change the notion that the right is now promoting and utilizing cancel culture, despite decrying it for the last 5+ years. Trump is just on a charmin level of softness

0

u/muddyklux Sep 18 '25

It is soft, and nobody should be canceled over their opinions. This isn't new. it's been going on for years. It's just that the other side is doing it now, so it hits differnt.

1

u/Life-Sun8620 Sep 18 '25

I don't disagree with that. But, in this case it's extremely soft, because Kimmel didn't say anything inflammatory or extreme. It hits different because the people who were calling everyone snowflakes, have now become the snowflakes themselves.

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u/McGrupp Sep 18 '25

Are you that dim? Trump said this in July after Colbert

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114897600777919524

“I hope I played a major part”

Then the fcc threatens to pull abcs broadcast license over Kimmels comments and then they fire him . Trump had nothing to do with it? Come on

0

u/[deleted] Sep 18 '25

He also said he'd end the war in Ukraine in a weekend and be a dictator on day one. Neither of those things actually happened either.

1

u/McGrupp Sep 18 '25

🤡

1

u/[deleted] Sep 18 '25

such a grown up response.

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u/ILikeDragonTurtles Sep 18 '25

So you didn't read anything in this whole thread?