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Comedian Bill Maher hammered President Trump and the right for their “hypocritical” criticism of Jimmy Kimmel, who was taken off air this week by ABC, vowing that he is “not intimidated.”
“I know why you’re happy tonight. I’m still on,” the “Real Time” host said Friday during a monologue on his show. “Oh, my God. Man, talk show hosts are going down like Blockbusters in the 90s. I mean, it’s… whew.”
“Let me just tell you something. I am not intimidated by the [Federal Communications Commission,” he continued. “And if President Trump is watching, I have one thing to say to you. Have you lost weight? You look terrific.”
Kimmel was suspended indefinitely by ABC on Wednesday over comments he made about Charlie Kirk, the late conservative activist who was shot and killed in Utah last week. The late-night host suggested the “MAGA gang” tried to characterize the suspected gunman Tyler “as anything other than one of them,” sparking backlash.
The network’s decision came hours after Nexstar Media Group, which owns The Hill, said its affiliate stations would preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live” over the rhetoric. FCC Chair Brendan Carr also condemned the comments and defended the network.
Maher referenced when ABC in 2002 canceled his old show, “Politically Incorrect,” saying he got “canceled before cancel even had a culture.”
“Yeah, this is on my wall from the Variety. White House keeps heat on ABC’s Maher. This s— ain’t new. It’s worse, we’ll get to that,” he said Friday. “But you know, ABC, they are steady. ABC stands for Always Be Caving.”
The comedian then expressed support for Kimmel and laid into the right.
“Uh, so Jimmy … Jimmy, pal, I am with you, I support you, and on the bright side, you don’t have to pretend anymore that you like Disneyland,” he said, making reference to ABC’s parent company Disney.
“That was always a great part of it for me when I got my a– canned over there,” Maher continued. “But I mean, this intimidation on the right is just so hypocritical. I mean everyone is scared now, and they’re all trying to kowtow.”
He quipped, “Good Morning America is now changing its name to ‘Good Morning America, even the scum who didn’t vote for Trump.’”
Several Democrats have condemned ABC over its decision, calling it an act of censorship, with some lawmakers pressuring Carr to resign in response. Other late-night hosts, including comedians Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, have also defended Kimmel, as concerns around the protection of free speech spread after Kirk’s assassination.
Trump praised the move, signaling Thursday that networks and late-night shows should refrain from being overwhelmingly critical of him.
