Once again, the realm of late-night television has become the arena for misunderstandings about free speech. This time, the spotlight is on Jimmy Kimmel, a man who has somehow managed to find himself in hot water over his comments, which were not only inaccurate but also lacked the essential ingredient of humorous perspective—truth. It seems Kimmel has forgotten a crucial lesson: while everyone is entitled to their opinion, there’s no such entitlement to express demonstrably false statements on national television without repercussions. And despite living in an era where facts sometimes feel optional in entertainment, the time has come for ABC to enforce some accountability.
The debacle unfolds with Kimmel propagating falsehoods about a crime involving Charlie Kirk. For a comedian often vocal about tagging people who “misgender,” one would expect a keener sense of accuracy regarding weightier issues. Apparently, Kimmel’s comedic license does not grant immunity from backlash when falsely attributing a crime to a political ideology. Sure, the First Amendment protects his right to express these wrongs, but it doesn’t shield him from the mighty hand of corporate decision-making—ABC, a private entity, has full liberty to decide what standards their hosts should adhere to, and Kimmel’s recent antics have clearly crossed the line.
Now, it is essential to note the saturation of “group therapy sessions” masquerading as late-night comedy. Comedians have long swapped belly-laughs for soapboxes, and it’s a wonder networks have tolerated it for so long. These shows once united viewers with light-hearted digs at everyone across the political spectrum. But, no longer. These days, it’s all sound and fury, signifying the unchecked bias that corrodes the humor they claim to serve. Just imagine if Jimmy Kimmel’s material had the wit and equal-opportunity jabs seen in the satirical finesse of South Park. He might have dodged this circus altogether.
Is it any surprise that Kimmel’s show has lost its luster and viewership? Even the network affiliates appear to have reached the end of their tether. They didn’t sign up for a political diatribe network under the guise of comedy, and neither did audiences who simply wish for a good laugh after a long day. Perhaps ABC has finally realized that viewers turning away from such partiality is a greater rating killer than any late-night monologue Kimmel could deliver.
Despite the left’s perplexity, the shift in TV entertainment seems straightforward enough: businesses prioritize ratings and viewer satisfaction over any misled loyalty to ideals. It’s high time for the left-leaning folks who defend this so-called “comedy” to grasp the basic principle that networks are beholden to the audience, not the partisan passion of their hosts. In the end, it’s amusing to ponder who ABC might choose next to fill such a role—though one might suggest they avoid another crusader-for-a-cause and instead, look for someone willing to bring back the art of comedy, undressed of political bias.
