Jennifer Aniston Critiques ABC for Jimmy Kimmel’s Suspension

Actress Jennifer Aniston spoke out against ABC’s decision to suspend late-night host Jimmy Kimmel in an interview with Elle published on Wednesday. Kimmel faced backlash after his comments regarding the murder suspect of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

In the “Women of Hollywood” issue, Aniston described the situation as “horrible” and “unthinkable,” expressing her concern: “The unthinkable is happening. It’s very dangerous and very unfortunate.”

ABC, along with parent company Disney, canceled “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” after the host’s remarks about Tyler Robinson, the suspect in Kirk’s murder. Kimmel had suggested that Robinson was trying to politicize the tragedy and distanced himself from any affiliations between Robinson and Trump supporters.

Kimmel’s comments, made shortly after statements from FBI officials and Utah’s Republican Governor, drew scrutiny. Robinson had exhibited radical leftist views, and Kimmel pointed out attempts from some groups to reframe Robinson’s actions.

Amid the controversy, Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group announced Kimmel’s show would be temporarily pre-aired on ABC affiliates, although some have suggested that the pressure from conservative commentators contributed to the suspension.

Fortunately, Kimmel’s show was reinstated shortly after the suspension. Aniston, a friend of Kimmel, indicated that the recent boycotts of Disney-affiliated streaming services like Hulu and Disney+ were messages to the company to support Kimmel. “At the end of the day, we are the viewers. We subscribe to these networks, so it’s the people and their voices that really matter,” she said.

Interestingly, a report indicated cancellations of streaming subscriptions nearly doubled in September, though it’s uncertain how many were linked directly to the Kimmel situation.

Radio host Howard Stern revealed he canceled his subscription amidst the controversy, regarding the situation as a government infringement on free speech. He emphasized the importance of free expression in his comments.

Kimmel and his wife, TV writer Molly McNerney, recently opened up about the impact of these events. McNerney expressed her hurt over family members supporting Trump, stressing the personal ramifications for their relationship.