Before “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” returned on Sept. 23, the show’s suspension sparked controversy over freedom of speech.

ABC took Kimmel off air after he commented on Charlie Kirk’s death, saying “the MAGA gang aimed to score political points,” according to BBC. The decision came when Brendan Carr, the chair of the broadcast regulator for the Federal Communications Commission, threatened to act against ABC and Disney over Kimmel’s monologue.

Woah, that’s a little extreme there Carr, ABC and Disney are Kimmel’s employers; Kimmel is just the employee. It’s like asking to speak to the manager at a supermarket. Believe me, I’ve been there. My first job was a deli clerk and I don’t remember how many times I had to call my manager because a customer was complaining or asking questions I couldn’t answer.

After the incident, public figures shared their remarks about the suspension. In a speech while visiting the United Kingdom, President Donald Trump applauded the suspension, stating, “Kimmel was fired because he had bad ratings and is not a talented person.”

Hey Mr. Trump, where are you getting that information from and what do you know about talent? All your cabinet members are all highly unqualified for their positions.

Other public figures like actors Ben Stiller and Jean Smart defended Kimmel, saying what he said was free speech, not hate speech. 

Additionally, House Democrat leaders agreed that Kimmel was speaking freely and Carr’s actions were out of line, according to BBC. They said Carr “bullied ABC by engaging in the corrupt abuse of power” and called for him to resign from the Federal Communications Commission. In a statement, House Democrat leaders said Carr had “forced ABC to bend to the knee of the Trump Administration.”

I only watch clips of Kimmel’s interviews if it entails a favorite celebrity promotion or performance. As it’s a talk show, you’re expected to crack jokes, but in a tasteful way. You don’t want to attack anyone or make people feel uncomfortable. In my opinion, Kimmel didn’t do that and he wasn’t attacking MAGA. He was just making a joke that some people took too seriously.

I’m glad Kimmel received support from others, but this begs the question: What could happen in the future if an incident like this were to occur on other talk shows?

As a person who believes in the freedom of speech, there’s a fine line between free speech and hate speech. Kimmel wasn’t hating on Kirk; he was speaking freely, as all late-night talk shows do. They make jokes about political figures, but I haven’t seen any hosts shed hate on them. However, the Federal Communications Commission may dislike what another host says on an episode. To avoid this, late-night hosts address the issue and support each other in their own way, whether it’s through a monologue or a comedic segment. 

For example, after Kimmel’s suspension, my favorite talk show, “The Daily Show,” made a special episode with a gold background instead of the usual red and blue. During the episode, Jon Stewart, the host, and correspondents were in support of Kimmel while making their jokes about Trump lightheartedly.

Other talk show hosts, such as Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers and Stephen Colbert, showed their support for Kimmel as well. Meyers said all late-night hosts make fun of former presidents and politicians in the news, including Joe Biden. However, it’s harder to joke about Biden because “he doesn’t say much in the news, unlike Trump, who never stops talking,” according to Meyers.

Fallon said Kimmel is a decent, funny and loving guy, according to NBC. He also addressed viewers’ worries about hosts getting censored over what they might say regarding Trump. Fallon assured the audience that no matter what, he will say whatever he wants to in his monologues.

At first, Colbert remained silent toward the news, according to an article from Parade. He received the news through an article on his phone while filming his show. After reading the article, he left mid-broadcast. One attendee of the show, Monserrat Lopez, said Colbert’s reaction was a mix of shock and bewilderment towards Kimmel’s suspension.

If I were a public figure, I’d give my support to Kimmel as well. If people are angry about what someone said, re-read the Constitution. It’s easy guys, you don’t have to read the whole thing, just the first amendment. Once you’re done, decide if what they said was hate or not. People are entitled to their own opinion, which, ironically, I’m writing about.

When Kimmel returned to the air, all hosts reacted happily, saying the “late-nightmare” is over, according to The Independent. When they announced it to their audience, the news received a loud cheer.

I found that as wonderful news as well so we can finally go back to our daily schedule of watching a guy make people laugh. For those who disagree with the decision, well too bad, you’ll be stuck in a life of getting butthurt and attacking others. If you want out, just shake it off, you need to calm down.

While this turned into a win for late-night television, the question about the future of talk shows remains unclear. It all depends on the cause for suspension or cancellation.

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