The First Amendment is possibly the most famous one in the Bill of Rights. Written on December 25, 1791, the amendment states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances” (Library of Congress). The amendment allows people to express themselves without fear of the government retaliating. This amendment, the entire Bill of Rights, and the Constitution have been upheld pretty well for centuries, or 234 years to be exact. But, on September 17, what many consider to be a violation of this amendment took place: The cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel Live.
On Jimmy Kimmel Live on September 15, Jimmy Kimmel talked about Charlie Kirk’s death. He specifically said MAGA was attempting to paint Kirk’s killer as “anything but one of them” (New York Post) and use Kirk’s death to “score political points” (New York Post). Additionally, he talked about how Donald Trump was “grieving his friend,” referencing video clips showing Trump redirecting the conversation to the White House’s new ballroom whenever Kirk’s name was brought up. Kimmel’s remarks faced intense backlash. Trump’s federal communications commission appointee, Brendan Carr, urged affiliates to end his program, stating, “Change needs to happen on Kimmel” (PBS). After this remark, Nexstar Communications, which operates 23 ABC affiliates, declared the program would no longer be carried. After both Carr’s and Nexstar’s remarks, ABC cancelled Jimmy Kimmel Live. In response to this, Donald Trump stated, “Jimmy Kimmel was fired because he had bad ratings more than anything else, and he said a horrible thing about a great gentleman known as Charlie Kirk” (Reuters).
The cancellation of Kimmel’s show has sparked outrage among many due to it being what many consider a violation of the First Amendment. The First Amendment is meant to protect freedoms of expression, free speech included, from government retaliation. But many people argue that the show was taken off the air because of political pressure from the government. And why was it taken off?
Because the host made comments that the president didn’t like.
That is a direct violation of free speech. Jimmy Kimmel’s comments were controversial, but the First Amendment allows us to make such comments without having to worry about government consequences. The government pushing ABC to take Kimmel off air is not only in direct violation of the First Amendment, but also pushes us towards the idea of tyranny, as “free speech acts as a fundamental safeguard against government overreach and corruption” (Americans for Prosperity). And, if they can silence an influential figure like Jimmy Kimmel, imagine what they can do to regular people.
But Jimmy Kimmel Live was put back on air after many Americans acted in protest. For example, many people had cancelled their Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions because they were upset by the suspension. This resulted in Disney losing four to five billion dollars in market capitalization, which is a significant drop in their stock value. Additionally, many protests around the nation from outraged people also led to the show’s reinstatement.
So, even though free speech was threatened, the power of the American people protected it, demonstrating how our power comes in numbers, and how collective action through boycotts and public pressure can help to have our voices heard and, in this case, reverse decisions impacting our rights. The return of Jimmy Kimmel Live shows that when people stand together against censorship, they can help to protect our rights, our democracy, and protect us from tyranny.
Works Cited
Americans for Prosperity. “Why Free Speech Is Important Today.” Americans for Prosperity, 23 Jan. 2025, americansforprosperity.org/blog/reasons-why-freedom-of-speech-is-important-and-should-matter-to-you/#:~:text=1.,them%2C%20and%20then%20vote%20accordingly.
Kimmel Said “horrible Thing” about Charlie Kirk, Trump Says | Reuters, www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/kimmel-said-horrible-thing-about-charlie-kirk-trump-says-2025-09-18/. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
Press, Associated. “What to Know about Brendan Carr, the Head of the FCC.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 19 Sept. 2025, www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/what-to-know-about-brendan-carr-the-head-of-the-fcc.
U.S. Constitution – First Amendment | Resources | Constitution Annotated | Congress.Gov | Library of Congress, constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-1/. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
