Stephen Colbert voiced support for Jimmy Kimmel on Thursday’s edition of The Late Show after ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely in response to Kimmel’s comments about Charlie Kirk. Colbert told viewers that the move amounted to 'blatant censorship,' and he quoted a line about autocrats: 'With an autocrat, you cannot give an inch,' a remark CNBC attributed to him.
ABC told affiliates that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would be off the air indefinitely while the company reviews the program following Kimmel’s comments about Kirk, a founder of Turning Point USA and ally of former President Donald Trump. The suspension triggered a wave of commentary from Trump on Truth Social, who wrote, 'Great News for America: The ratings-challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED,' and praised ABC for taking 'courage to do what had to be done.'
Kimmel was seen heading to his lawyer’s office in Los Angeles on Thursday, pausing briefly for photographers before entering the building. He reportedly is unwilling to apologize for his remarks about Kirk, even as Sinclair — the media company that operates the largest ABC affiliate group — has demanded a direct apology to Kirk’s family and a donation to Kirk Family and Turning Point USA as a condition for a return to air. The Daily Mail, citing anonymous sources, reported that Kimmel is exploring ways to exit his contract with ABC.
Colbert has long supported Kimmel. The two hosts are friends who have publicly backed one another during difficult times: Kimmel backed Colbert when CBS canceled The Late Show in July, and Colbert later won this year’s Emmy for Outstanding Talk Series. The relationship stands out in a late-night landscape that has churned through controversy and corporate decisions.
Colbert, in Thursday’s show, dedicated the program to free speech and to Kimmel’s staff, reaffirming his support for the Kimmel team as the dispute continued to unfold. The latest development adds another chapter to a season already defined by high-profile clashes between late-night hosts and corporate ownership, with Trump intermittently weighing in on social media.
Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been on the air for 22 years, and the suspension marks a rare interruption for a program with a long run under ABC. The case spotlights the fragile balance between provocative commentary in late-night entertainment and the consequences that can follow when a network faces external pressure from political and media groups.
With Kimmel seeking to resolve the dispute, the industry watches to see whether a return date will be announced or a longer stalemate will ensue. For Colbert and Kimmel’s audience, the moment underscores the enduring tension between free expression and corporate caution in an era of rapid internet-driven reactions.
