"Silencing us impoverishes the whole world": Writers Guild of America issues bombshell statement following Jimmy Kimmel's ABC suspension

The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! from ABC's schedule has sparked notable debate across the entertainment industry. On Wednesday night, Disney-owned ABC confirmed that the late-night talk show would be pulled "indefinitely" following comments host Jimmy Kimmel made regarding the killing of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.

Within hours of the suspension announcement, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) released a relatively strongly worded statement and condemned the move. SAG-AFTRA also weighed in.

The controversy began after Jimmy Kimmel's Monday night monologue. He addressed the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. His remarks quickly went viral. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair, Brendan Carr, stated that ABC affiliates risked license revocation if they continued to air what he described as "patterns of news distortion." ABC eventually made the decision to halt the show.

Writers Guild of America (WGA)'s complete statement on Jimmy Kimmel's 'Live!' halt

The Writers Guild of America West and East represent writers across film and television. It condemned ABC's action against Kimmel in a joint statement. It reads:

"WGA Statement on ABC's Decision to Pull Jimmy Kimmel Live! The right to speak our minds and to disagree with each other to disturb, even is at the very heart of what it means to be a free people. It is not to be denied. Not by violence, not by the abuse of governmental power, nor by acts of corporate cowardice."

The statement continued:

"As a Guild, we stand united in opposition to anyone who uses their power and influence to silence the voices of writers, or anyone who speaks in dissent. If free speech applied only to ideas we like, we needn't have bothered to write it into the Constitution. What we have signed on to, painful as it may be at times, is the freeing agreement to disagree."

WGA concluded the message, stating:

"Shame on those in government who forget this founding truth. As for our employers, our words have made you rich. Silencing us impoverishes the whole world. The WGA stands with Jimmy Kimmel and his writers."

The Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) represent more than 160,000 performers. It also supported Kimmel. The union's statement read:

"Our society depends on freedom of expression. Suppression of free speech and retaliation for speaking out on significant issues of public concern run counter to the fundamental rights we all rely on. Democracy thrives when diverse points of view are expressed. The decision to suspend airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! is the type of suppression and retaliation that endangers everyone’s freedoms."

ABC's suspension of Kimmel's show followed action earlier in the day by Nexstar. The company announced it would preempt the show on all of its owned and partner stations. They called his comments "offensive and insensitive" and "not in the public interest at the current time."

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Also Read: "What happened to free speech?": Internet reacts as Sinclair to replace 'Kimmel Live!' with Charlie Kirk special

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