Whoopi Goldberg, The View address Jimmy Kimmel suspension, defend free speech
The View co-hosts respond to ABC’s pause of Jimmy Kimmel Live, framing the incident as a test of press freedom amid regulatory scrutiny.
Whoopi Goldberg and the View co-hosts addressed Jimmy Kimmel Live!'s suspension on Monday, nearly a week after ABC paused the late-night program following a controversial monologue about Charlie Kirk and reaction from President Trump. The panel signaled they would not stay silent and indicated that discussions about press freedom would continue on the show.
Goldberg opened the discussion by noting that the hosts planned to confront the topic and reaffirmed that they would speak out. She and fellow panelists Joy Behar, Sara Haines and Sunny Hostin explained they had waited to see whether Kimmel would address the situation, but he had not issued a public statement. They also described Nexstar Media's objections and a threat of regulator scrutiny by the FCC as part of the context for the pause.
Ana Navarro argued that in a country founded on the First Amendment, the government should not use its power to pressure media or silence voices. She framed the situation as a warning of how power can be used to intimidate journalists and comedians alike.
Alyssa Farah Griffin added that the First Amendment exists to hold those in power accountable and that open expression is essential to journalism and democracy.
Goldberg reiterated that The View is committed to defending freedom of speech for everyone and emphasized that government pressure to silence a voice is unacceptable. The group underscored that protecting free expression is a core value of the show.
Media observers noted that The View was not told to stay silent, and several late-night figures including Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon publicly defended Kimmel. Howard Stern criticized ABC's decision and said he would boycott Disney+ in protest, arguing that government involvement in content is dangerous. Industry watchers described the move as part of a broader debate over how networks handle political content and free expression, with regulators watching closely.
While Kimmel has not publicly commented, photographers have been seen outside his lawyer's office. The broader debate continues to track how entertainment outlets respond to government pressure and how audiences weigh the role of late-night comedy in political discourse. The View's stance fits within a wider industry push to defend independent voices and maintain press independence from political interference.
Goldberg closed the segment by reaffirming The View's commitment to defending free speech for all and urging ongoing attention to matters of press freedom.