Los Angeles, CA – Actor and director Ben Stiller has spoken out in defense of talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, whose late-night program was abruptly suspended following remarks he made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The controversy stems from Kimmel’s opening monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, in which he addressed both Kirk’s death and President Donald Trump’s public comments about the tragedy.
Kimmel’s Remarks Spark Backlash
Kirk, 31, was fatally shot in the neck while participating in a debate at Utah Valley University on September 10. The suspected gunman, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was arrested two days later and now faces seven charges, including aggravated murder and obstruction of justice.
On his show, Kimmel played a clip of President Trump responding to reporters about Kirk’s death. The president began by saying he was doing “very good” before shifting to discuss ongoing renovations at the White House, particularly a new ballroom.
Kimmel mocked the response, quipping:
“He’s at the fourth stage of grief: construction. This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend. This is how a 4-year-old mourns a goldfish.”
The comedian also criticized Republicans for their reaction to the shooting, saying that Trump supporters were “desperately trying to spin” Robinson’s motives to avoid political fallout.
Network Moves to Suspend Show
The monologue quickly drew outrage online, with critics calling Kimmel’s remarks “insensitive” and “politically charged.”
ABC later confirmed that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would be “pre-empted indefinitely.” Nexstar Media, which distributes the program across dozens of local affiliates, also announced it would not air the show “for the foreseeable future.”
Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar’s broadcast division, said the suspension was necessary because Kimmel’s comments were “offensive at a critical time in the national discourse.”
Ben Stiller and Obama Respond
The suspension prompted swift reactions from across the political and cultural spectrum. Stiller, known for films like Zoolander and Tropic Thunder, took to X (formerly Twitter) to post a blunt three-word response:
“This isn’t right.”
Former President Barack Obama also weighed in, framing the suspension as a troubling precedent. On social media, Obama argued that the decision reflected political pressure rather than editorial independence:
“After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire commentators it doesn’t like. This is precisely the kind of coercion the First Amendment was designed to prevent.”
A Deepening Divide
The decision has reignited debates about free speech, political pressure on media outlets, and the boundaries of comedy in times of national tragedy. Supporters of Kimmel argue that comedians have always used satire to hold leaders accountable, while critics insist that mocking the death of a public figure crosses a moral line.
As of now, neither ABC nor Kimmel has announced when—or if—the show will return to air.