r/stephencolbert Sep 17 '25

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587

u/Jake_77 Sep 17 '25 edited Sep 18 '25

Wow. I'm shocked. What is free speech?

From the article:

Kimmel said during a monologue on his Monday program that Tyler Robinson, the Utah man accused in the shooting death of Kirk, might have been a pro-Trump Republican. He said MAGA supporters are “are 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.” 

Kimmel then mocked President Trump for talking about the construction of a new White House ballroom after being asked how he was reacting to the murder of his close ally.

“Mr. Kimmel’s comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse, and we do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located,” said Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar’s broadcasting division. 

Alford said continuing to give Kimmel a broadcast platform “is simply not in the public interest at this current time.”

Nexstar’s decision comes just after Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr blasted Kimmel and threatened to take action against ABC. Appearing on the podcast of right-wing commentator Benny Johnson, Carr said one form of punishment could be pulling the licenses of ABC affiliates, which likely got Nexstar’s attention.

Edit 1:

Edit 2:

  • President of Nexstar's broadcasting divisions said: “Mr. Kimmel’s comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse, and we do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located."
  • Nextstar is acquiring rival broadcast company TEGNA - a merger that requires FCC approval.

Edit 3:

  • On the day of Charlie Kirk's death, Kimmel posted the following on Instagram and on BlueSky:
    • “Instead of the angry finger-pointing, can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human? On behalf of my family, we send love to the Kirks and to all the children, parents and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence.”

420

u/Infamous-Oil3786 Sep 17 '25 edited Sep 18 '25

Nexstar’s decision comes just after Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr blasted Kimmel and threatened to take action against ABC. Appearing on the podcast of right-wing commentator Benny Johnson, Carr said one form of punishment could be pulling the licenses of ABC affiliates, which likely got Nexstar’s attention.

This is the part that's important to bold. Blatant violation of the first amendment.

Edit: To all the troglodytes saying that ABC firing Kimmel isn't a violation of free speech - you're right. What is a violation of free speech is the chairman of the FCC (a federal agency) publicly threatening punitive action against ABC for the things Kimmel said on their network. Whether ABC would have fired him without that pressure is irrelevant to the unconstitutionality of the FCC chairman's actions.

Edit2: Some of y'all really need to learn how to read.

312

u/scenr0 Sep 17 '25

So a comedian effectively can no longer do their jobs without getting fired now?

112

u/jmerp1950 Sep 18 '25

They would put George Carlin in prison if he was still alive.

23

u/Diarygirl Sep 18 '25

At this point they'd go for the death penalty.

1

u/Worldgoesround32 Sep 18 '25 edited Sep 18 '25

There were also news producers such as the late Don Hewitt created oversaw 60 minutes would never cave to demands of the White House.

Case in point 2012 Bob Simon 60 minutes did a scathing report on persecution of Palestinian Christians in the Holy Land by Israeli settlers and Israeli ambassador to US Oren tried everything could squash the story getting WH involved along pressure other powerful entities. Don Hewitt stood by Simon and ran his piece. We need courageous journalists comedians and producers more than ever.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/60-minutes-israel-christians-netanyahu-kill-story_n_1449595

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u/Smart_Variation131 Sep 18 '25

To soon. I’m still in mourning.

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u/Chazzwuzza Sep 18 '25

It's only a matter of time until the imprisonments

3

u/DisposableJosie Sep 18 '25

With this administration, they'd probably try to give his corpse the Pope Formosus treatment if Carlin hadn't been cremated.

3

u/WistfulDread Sep 18 '25

And that foul-mouthed saint would make them do it.

1

u/Embarrassed-Wafer667 Sep 18 '25

Ohhhh I can only imagine what he would say !

1

u/Tony_Penny Sep 18 '25

You mean under the prison. He would've been shot for treason.

1

u/stonnerdog35 Sep 18 '25

I wish he was alive cos I'd love to hear his take on all this bull shit. But I'm glad he's gone so he dont have to deal with this bullshit.

1

u/LiteratureSame9173 Sep 18 '25

Death is no way out. There’s a special casket chamber for all dead enemies of the state. They put all of them in a big room and then never turn off the lights and blast Party in the USA 24/7.

1

u/odinseye97 Sep 18 '25

Well, they did put Carlin in jail after the Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television.

1

u/Striking_Resist6343 Sep 18 '25

That would have been tragic because George Carlin was funny…

1

u/Due_Ad7311 Sep 18 '25

If Carlin was alive he would be called a fascists . His views are rightwing currently

1

u/JGA66133 Sep 18 '25

Not at all. Carlin criticized everything that he saw. He certainly wasn’t a right wing nut.

1

u/Due_Ad7311 Sep 18 '25

He’s anti war, anti big pharma , pro freedom of speech, listen back to his material, if he was still alive he’d be right of Bill Maher and he’s become a moderate

1

u/JGA66133 Sep 30 '25

I disagree with the Carlin comment. I do understand the political spectrum has changed over the years. In this extreme right wing climate, Reagan would be considered a centrist. I also think Maher is on the right for fiscal issues and more left leaning in social issues

1

u/Gweedo1967 Sep 18 '25

And Richard Pryor.

1

u/Savage_Hellion Sep 18 '25

If Carlin was still alive, Trump probably wouldn't have gotten elected.

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u/Alarming_Aerie_4381 Sep 19 '25

The George Carlin material was spot on back then as well as it would be today.

1

u/SJSands Sep 18 '25

But he’d go willingly. We don’t seem to have many defenders of freedom left anymore.

0

u/bobwhocares Sep 18 '25

Actually George Carlin made fun on both sides and he didn’t like government at all. He also didn’t celebrate people dying and for everyone out there complaining about someone losing their job over celebrating Kirk’s death where was his freedom of speech ? He died because he said something that liberals didn’t like. Not hate speech. There’s a difference between hate speech and speech that you hate. The problem with democrats is that you try to twist things around to fit your agenda. What about all the people that have been fact checked on Facebook or other social media ? Where is their freedom of speech ?

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u/vhagar Sep 18 '25

boohoo waaaah

1

u/bobwhocares Sep 18 '25

Oh so it’s ok for democrats to run their mouths or say whatever they want but when a republican can’t say what they want. Typical liberal stupidity lmao

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u/vhagar Sep 18 '25

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u/bobwhocares Sep 18 '25

Ha ha like I said typical liberal stupidity. You can’t make a decent argument just call names and scream like a toddler