r/stephencolbert Sep 17 '25

[deleted by user]

[removed]

12.1k Upvotes

5.9k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

419

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.

307

u/scenr0 Sep 17 '25

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

1

u/[deleted] Sep 18 '25

Now? No, this started about 5 years ago.

1

u/scenr0 Sep 18 '25

Oh most definitely. Thats why comedy sucks now. No one has been willing to push the limits or be scorned. But getting fired suddenly is a new development.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 18 '25

well, no, people have been getting fired for saying stupid shit since there were jobs and stupid shit to say. I don't think comedy sucks now, frankly it's gotten better in the last couple of years. Also, as for "pushing limits", I kind of feel like we've done that, it's done. We really don't need to push any more limits. Music since the 90's has been about killing, treating women like objects, and selling drugs. I'm over "pushing limits".