ABC’s late-night show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, made a comeback on Tuesday following a brief suspension that sparked a national conversation on freedom of speech. Sarah McLachlan surprised viewers with a performance of her new song “Better Broken” on the show. The Canadian artist had recently pulled out of a U.S. documentary premiere, citing support for free speech, coincidentally released on Disney+, ABC’s parent company.
Despite the return of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, several groups of ABC affiliates refused to air the show. Nexstar Media Group, operating 32 ABC affiliate stations, and Sinclair Broadcast Group, the largest ABC affiliate operator, both decided to continue excluding Kimmel’s show from their lineup. Together, these corporations control a significant portion of ABC affiliates in the U.S. However, Citytv, holding the Canadian rights to the show, confirmed it would resume broadcasting the program.
Originally slated as the sole guest, actor Glen Powell was joined by McLachlan on the Tuesday show. McLachlan addressed her decision to cancel a weekend performance in Los Angeles, expressing the difficulty of her choice. She highlighted concerns about the erosion of women’s and LGBTQ+ rights and the suppression of free speech.
Kimmel, whose show was suspended due to controversial remarks made in a monologue, broke his silence on social media. Sharing a tribute to the late TV producer Norman Lear, Kimmel spoke out against censorship and government interference in media content. The FCC’s involvement in the suspension of his show drew criticism and accusations of censorship from various quarters.
The debate around free speech intensified with politicians and media personalities weighing in on the situation. While the FCC denied direct involvement in the show’s suspension, allegations of political censorship and interference persisted. The ongoing discussions raised concerns about the boundaries of free speech and the role of regulatory bodies in controlling media content.