Jimmy Kimmel was recently removed from his late-night show after making a comment about the killer of activist Charlie Kirk. This suspension has sparked a strong backlash from several Hollywood stars, with John Oliver being the latest to voice his support.
On his show Last Week Tonight, Oliver stood in solidarity with his fellow host. “What got Kimmel in trouble was a passing reference on Monday night. At the time, there were still rumors flying around regarding the killer’s motivations, including that he was on the far right, something that Kimmel alluded to like this,” he shared.
The host continued, “Yeah, that was it. Weirdly, I was actually a guest on his show that night and I didn’t even register that comment, and that’s only partly because I wasn’t really paying attention.” Calling Kimmel’s suspension a “turning point,” Oliver stated, “Not because comedians are important, but because we are not.” He concluded by saying, “If the government can force a network to pull a late-night show off the air and do so in plain view, it can do a hell of a lot worse.”
Similarly, Olivia Rodrigo also took to her Instagram Stories to criticize the decision, calling the host’s suspension “blatant censorship and abuse of power.” She added, “I stand with Jimmy Kimmel and I stand for freedom of speech.” Meanwhile, reports indicate that Disney and Kimmel are in talks to get his show back on air.
