Podcaster and former ESPN host Bill Simmons used to work as a comedy writer for Jimmy Kimmel, and during the “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” he showed his support for his former boss. He noted that he and Kimmel have been friends for over two decades and noted that the comedian does not really need a big network like ABC to thrive.
“If the FCC can leverage some affiliates to get rid of it, then that becomes a different story,” said the former ESPN personality. “You have NextStar merging with Tegna… they need FCC approval. The guy who runs it, appointed by Trump, sees an opportunity to leverage some stuff….If you want to get rid of a show like Jimmy’s, this is the moment to do it.” (3:52)
He also talked about the report by Rolling Stone where ABC, Disney, and affiliated executives went on an emergency meeting before they suspended Kimmel, noting that they believed the comedian did not really say anything over the line but they were afraid of the retaliation from the Trump administration.
The podcaster would then slam ABC’s decision and said that the move from the Trump administration to pressure Disney to fire Kimmel was “censorship.” Despite this, he added that the massive support being shown for Kimmel and the outpouring of criticisms towards Disney could see his former boss back on late night TV.
However, he questioned if Kimmel even needed ABC and noted that going the more independent route, as he did, have resulted in his success. He concluded that he hopes Kimmel would return to late night and if he does not, he thinks it would be “pretty cowardly.”
Late Night Talk Show Hosts Rally behind Jimmy Kimmel, Slam Donald Trump
Meanwhile, as Donald Trump doubles down on going after those who mock him, threatening to go after other late night hosts like Jimmy Fallon and Seth Myers, the late night talk show community rallied around Jimmy Kimmel.
Stephen Colbert, whose show was cancelled after pressure from the Trump administration, stated during his monologue that “we are all Jimmy Kimmel” and added that the removal of his late night rival was a “blatant assault on freedom of speech. Meanwhile, Seth Myers, who Trump has now threatened, stated that it was “a privilege and honor to call Jimmy Kimmel my friend.”
Meanwhile, John Stewart and Jimmy Fallon took a more satirical approach, poking fun at the Trump administration’s attempt to curtail his critics by mockingly praising Donald Trump.
Athletes, such as 18-time Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova, also showed support to Kimmel, with her showing support on social media.
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