FILE PHOTO: Jimmy Kimmel speaks at a ceremony in which 91-year-old iconic comedy legend and actor Carol Burnett marks her hands and feet in cement, at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Blvd in Los Angeles, California , U.S. June 20, 2024. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo
Comedian Jimmy Kimmel became a target of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Director Brendan Carr in response to the late-night host's comments on the fatal shooting of MAGA activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and the suspect: 22-year-old Utah resident Tyler Robinson.
MAGA Republicans ranging from Vice President JD Vance to Rep. Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina) to Fox News' Jesse Watters are blaming the left for the murder, but Kimmel argued that the suspect had a MAGA ideology rather than a leftist ideology. With Carr raging against Kimmel, Disney suspended Kimmel's show indefinitely.
But Peter Hamby, host of "Good Luck America" on Snapchat, notes that some podcasters and comedians are rushing to Kimmel's defense.
In a September 18 post on X, formerly Twitter, Hamby wrote, "And here we go. Comedians/podcasters who are righteous about free speech — Andrew Schultz, Tim Dillon, Sam Morril — are already condemning the Kimmel decision."
Hamby highlighted specific comments from them.
Schultz argued, "Left: Fascism is wrong! Unless you kill our political opponents. Then we'll celebrate it. Right: Cancel Culture is wrong! Unless you cancel the programs of our political opponents. Then we'll celebrate it."
Dillon commented, "I am against Kimmel being taken off the air and against people being shot for their opinions. See how easy it is?"
Morril posted, "The Epstein list won't be released, but Jimmy Kimmel will?"
In a September 17 tweet, Hamby wrote, "Rogan, Schultz, rest of the podcast crowd .... you gotta think they're gonna unload on Disney/Iger."
Referring to Joe Rogan, David Aldridge — executive director of the Virginia Coalition for Progressive Values — asked Hamby, "Anything from Rogan yet?"