‘Calling All Comedians’: Comedy World Needs to Pick Sides After ‘Insanity’ of Kimmel Suspension
A community of comedians helped elect the current administration with its pained cries for free speech and an end to cancel culture. How will those same comedians react now that ABC has suspended Jimmy Kimmel for calling out opportunistic politicians? This isn’t bitchy comments on Instagram criticizing offensive jokes — it’s literal cancellation. And according to the President, Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers are next.
“Calling all comedians,” was the alert sounded by Mike Birbiglia. “I’ve spent a lot of time in public and private defending comedians i don’t agree with. If you’re a comedian & you don’t call out the insanity of pulling kimmel off the air — don’t bother spouting off about free speech anymore.”
Surely the comedians who’ve made “free speech” their badge would come out in defense of Kimmel, right?
Not Rob Schneider, who published a book last year called You Can Do It: Speak Your Mind America! The tireless advocate of the First Amendment changed his tune yesterday, applauding ABC for silencing Kimmel.
This is the fork in the road for comedians who complain about cancel culture. No one has to agree with Kimmel, but if the “you can’t say anything anymore” crowd supports the suspension, it simply confirms that some comedians’ complaints have been about ideology all along.
Several comics have taken Kimmel’s suspension as a call to arms. Marc Maron called on all of the “free speech warriors” in the comedy world to speak up and take action. “This isn’t about saying the R-word or the T-word or any of that. This is government censorship, this isn’t fucking Twitter.”
Wanda Sykes was supposed to be on Kimmel last night. “For those of you who pray,” she said, “now’s the time to do it.”
Kelly Carlin-McCall, daughter of the late George Carlin, issued her own warning. “Dear Fellow Citizens, When the king starts getting rid of the court jesters, NO ONE IS SAFE.”
Hacks star Jean Smart posted a rant: “I am horrified at the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel Live. What Jimmy said was FREE speech, not hate speech. People seem to only want to protect free speech when it suits THEIR agenda. Though I didn’t agree at ALL with Charlie Kirk; his shooting death sickened me; and should have sickened any decent human being. What is happening to our country?”
Kimmel’s suspension won’t be an issue comedians can sidestep or ignore. Saturday Night Live can’t trot out its cute James Austin Johnson impressions and take a “both sides are nuts!” approach. Comics are holding each other accountable — which side of this are you on?
“I think everybody sees what’s happening,” warned Patton Oswalt. “We have to roar up screaming and link arms. This thing is coming for all of us.”
