Jimmy Kimmel suspension from ABC sparks reactions from Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and Stephen Colbert

The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! has sent shockwaves through late-night television, with prominent hosts including Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart weighing in on ABC’s decision to take the program off air.

The Walt Disney-owned network announced on September 17 that Kimmel’s show would be “pre-empted indefinitely” following backlash over his comments on the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The move reportedly came after pressure from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group, both major operators of ABC affiliates, quickly followed by pulling the program from their stations.

Jimmy Fallon was among the first to address the controversy. Speaking on The Tonight Show, he clarified to viewers that he was not the one suspended, joking, “This morning I woke up to 100 text messages from my dad saying I’m sorry they cancelled your show. I go, that’s not me, that’s Jimmy Kimmel.” Fallon went on to describe Kimmel as a “decent, funny, and loving guy” and expressed hope for his return, while acknowledging industry concerns about censorship.

NBC host Seth Meyers also used sarcasm to address speculation that other comedians might face similar consequences. “Completely unrelated, I just want to say before we get started here that I’ve always admired and respected Mr Trump,” Meyers quipped. Pretending to praise the former president as a “visionary” and “even better golfer,” Meyers reassured his audience that any past criticisms were the work of artificial intelligence.

Stephen Colbert struck a more critical tone during his Late Show monologue. Condemning the FCC’s reported role in the suspension, he called it a “blatant assault on the freedom of speech.” Colbert added, “People across the country are shocked by this blatant assault,” while mocking Disney executives for what he described as capitulation to political threats.

On The Daily Show, Jon Stewart tackled the issue with satire, presenting a parody “government approved” program complete with gold trim reminiscent of the Trump White House. Stewart highlighted what he described as hypocrisy from conservative commentators, playing clips of Republican leaders condemning rhetoric while making inflammatory remarks themselves. “Only a bad person would celebrate violence or make crass jokes about it,” Stewart said, before cutting to a montage of Trump allies joking about the 2022 attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband.

The controversy has reignited debates over the boundaries of political satire and free speech in American television. Kimmel’s future at ABC remains unclear, with neither the network nor affiliate groups offering a timeline for his return. In the meantime, fellow comedians are using their platforms to defend the principle of free expression, while simultaneously turning the unfolding saga into late-night fodder.