Seth Meyers closed out Thursday night’s “A Closer Look” with a pointed—and personal—message about Jimmy Kimmel’s sudden suspension and its implications for free speech in America.
In an advance online release of the segment, set to air during tonight’s Late Night with Seth Meyers, Meyers pivoted from comedy to condemnation.
The piece began as a sharp-eyed tour of Donald Trump’s second-term trip to the U.K., with riffs about protestors, royal horses, and McDonald’s trucks. But after playing clips of Trump touting his record on restoring free speech, Meyers cut to breaking news: ABC stations, under pressure from Trump’s FCC, pulling Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air as Trump celebrated on Truth Social, calling it “great news for America.”
“Trump promised to end government censorship and bring back free speech,” Meyers said. “And he is doing the opposite… we’re rapidly devolving into oppressive autocracy in the style of Russia or Hungary.”
“It is a privilege and an honor to call Jimmy Kimmel my friend,” he continued. “In the same way that it’s a privilege and an honor to do this show… We’re gonna keep doing our show the way we’ve always done it—with enthusiasm and integrity.” Calling the moment “pivotal,” he urged viewers to defend the First Amendment: “There’s a reason free speech is in the very first amendment. It stands above all others.”
As LateNighter reported earlier, Jimmy Fallon is also set to address the controversy tonight, calling Kimmel “a decent, funny, and loving guy,” and adding, “I hope he comes back.”
Jon Stewart (hosting a rare Thursday Daily Show) and Stephen Colbert are also expected to weigh in on Kimmel’s suspension tonight.
Watch Meyers’ full A Closer Look at the top of this post.
It’s unconscionable for the FCC head to start caterwauling over Jimmy Kimmel’s benign comments when Republicans from Trump on down have said and done things that are exponentially more repugnant. Inciting violence? You cannot be serious. Right-wing violence is 6 times more prevalent than that of liberals. It’s not even close. I’m so sick of the constant torrent of lies and propaganda coming from DJ Tariff and his sophomoric sycophants. It’s infuriating to have my intelligence insulted with such banality while we watch every single tenet of our government and our society torn to shreds.
“I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.”
George Carlin
Calling his show comedy is a stretch considering all he does is complain about Trump and republicans every night. Guy has a severe case of tds and needs to get seek professional help. He’s a miserable smug little prick just like Kimmel and Colbert. Fallon is the only one who isn’t a whiny @sshole always complaining. That crap gets old fast. I don’t watch tv to be outraged
Go lick Drumpf’s unwiped ass, you fucking whinny retarded MAGAt! Nobody likes you racist losers!