Hollywood A-listers rally behind Jimmy Kimmel: 400 Stars join ACLU against Disney

Hundreds of famous actors, comedians, and artists have joined a letter from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) after the incident with Jimmy Kimmel. They criticized Disney and ABC for suspending Jimmy Kimmel Live! following government pressure. The stars say this move is bad for free speech.

At the top, some of the biggest names signed the letter. Jennifer Aniston, Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Jason Bateman, Billy Crystal, Robert De Niro, Selena Gomez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and many others are on it. The letter asks all Americans to defend the right to speak freely.

The letter reads,

"We the people must never accept government threats to our freedom of speech. Efforts by leaders to pressure artists, journalists, and companies with retaliation for their speech strike at the heart of what it means to live in a free country."

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What led to the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel's show?

Jimmy Kimmel said something in his monologue about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. He criticized how some people reacted, saying political pressure is increasing in public life.

After Kimmel’s comment, FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened to pull broadcast licenses of affiliates if they did not take action. Some affiliate owners, such as Nexstar and Sinclair, said they would stop airing the show. Because of that, Disney and ABC put Jimmy Kimmel Live! on hold indefinitely.

People across the political spectrum reacted with concern. Even some Republicans spoke out against the decision, and there were calls for boycotts of Disney.

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What does the letter say, and why do people agree?

The letter from the ACLU says that this is a dangerous moment for free speech. It warns that threatening media outlets or personalities because of what they say is like going back to times when voices were silenced for political reasons. The director of the ACLU, Anthony D. Romero, compared the pressure to the McCarthy era in the 1950s, when people were accused or punished for their beliefs.

The stars say that if one voice is silenced, it affects everyone. They argue that free speech must be defended no matter what side of politics a person is on. The letter ends by asking all Americans to stand up and join in defending speech rights.

"Regardless of our political affiliation, or whether we engage in politics or not, we all love our country. We also share the belief that our voices should never be silenced by those in power – because if it happens to one of us, it happens to all of us."

Many who signed come from movies, television, stage, and comedy. They include veteran artists and newer faces. The full list of high-profile signatories features Jennifer Aniston, Robert De Niro, Jason Bateman, Billy Crystal, Jane Fonda, Selena Gomez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tom Hanks, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Joaquin Phoenix, Meryl Streep, Ben Stiller, and Kerry Washington. Some of them work with Disney; some may not. But they agree that the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel raises concerns about precedent.

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What is next?

Talk shows and media outlets are watching closely. On The View, hosts said that free speech must be protected. Co-host Whoopi Goldberg said, “No one silences us.” Another host said that the First Amendment exists so people can talk back to power. Some people in entertainment are asking others to cancel Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions. They are upset with how Disney and ABC handled the situation.

Legal experts say this case might test what limits there are on free speech, especially when a government official pressures a broadcaster. There could be court cases, or rules might be asked to change. Many are asking where the line is between speech criticism and government interference.

Some also warn of chilling effects, meaning people may hesitate to speak out for fear of punishment. That could hurt public discussion and art.

In short, many Hollywood stars have joined the ACLU in speaking up after Disney suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! The action came after his monologue and after pressure from the FCC and others. The stars say this is a threat to everyone’s free speech. Disney and ABC have said little publicly since the suspension. This event has sparked discussion on power, speech, politics, media, and public rights when speaking out.