Kerry Washington, renowned for her roles in Scandal and Django Unchained, publicly voiced her support for late-night host Jimmy Kimmel on Thursday after ABC announced the indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live!. The decision followed backlash over Kimmel’s recent remarks regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
On Wednesday, ABC revealed that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would no longer air for an unspecified period. Although ABC did not clarify the reason behind the hiatus, the move came after Nextstar Media Group declared it would preempt the show on its ABC-affiliated stations indefinitely, citing controversy stirred by Kimmel’s comments about the motives of the man accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk.
Kimmel had commented on his Emmy-nominated talk show about the political implications surrounding Kirk’s death, criticizing attempts by certain groups to downplay the assailant’s affiliations. In a social media post shared widely, the statement read,
“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
Kerry Washington’s Message of Support for Jimmy Kimmel
Following the show’s suspension, Kerry Washington took to Threads and Instagram to express solidarity with her friend and colleague Jimmy Kimmel. In her message, she praised Kimmel’s kindness, generosity, and inspirational leadership, emphasizing her commitment by stating,
“it’s my turn to stand with and for you.”
She condemned ABC’s decision as unfair and unjust.
Washington also referenced the recent cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, suggesting that similar silencing of outspoken voices was occurring across networks. Colbert’s show was reportedly canceled for financial reasons, though the move came after his public criticism of a lawsuit settlement between Paramount Global and former President Donald Trump, as reported by Politico.
Celebrity Community Rallies Behind Jimmy Kimmel
Aside from Kerry Washington, numerous celebrities have publicly supported Kimmel amid the show’s unexpected halt. Comedian and actor Wanda Sykes, who was scheduled as Kimmel’s guest for Wednesday’s episode, appealed for prayers in an Instagram video.
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis shared a quote from Kimmel on her Instagram story, highlighting his words:
“I don’t think anyone should be canceled. I really don’t.”
Meanwhile, Emmy Award winner Jean Smart posted a photo with Kimmel accompanied by the words,
“I am horrified at the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel Live. What Jimmy said was FREE speech, not hate speech.”
Additional defenders of Kimmel include comedian Steve Martin, former President Barack Obama, comedians Alex Edelman and Mike Birbiglia, political commentator Chris Hayes, comedian Margaret Cho, among others. Meanwhile, fellow late-night host Jimmy Fallon withdrew from an appearance at Fast Company’s Innovation Festival hours before the event. Organizers stated the cancellation was “in light of recent events.”
In the interim, ABC has scheduled reruns of Family Feud to fill Kimmel’s time slot at 11:35 p.m. ET while the network navigates the situation.
Implications of the Show’s Hiatus and What Lies Ahead
The indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! highlights escalating tensions around politically charged commentary in late-night television. The swift and strong reactions from both media companies and celebrities underline the fragile balance between free speech and network sensitivities in today’s polarized environment.
Kerry Washington’s vocal support for Kimmel, along with other prominent figures, suggests ongoing debates will continue around freedom of expression for entertainers and journalists. How ABC and related networks address this controversy may set a precedent for handling similar incidents in the future.
