McNerney Talks Fragility of Freedom

Molly McNerney, a TV writer and wife of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, expressed concerns about the state of freedom in the U.S. in light of her husband’s recent, brief suspension. During her keynote speech at The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment Breakfast Gala, she reflected on how this incident has made her realize she had taken free speech for granted.

“I always thought freedom of speech was a given in this country, but that notion was shaken on September 16, 2025,” she noted. “I imagined it was as reliable as, well, my period—until I found out that can just stop, you know?”

McNerney continued, highlighting the tensions around free speech that have resurfaced in light of recent events. “We saw a glimpse of this fragility with the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade last year. But just two months ago, I watched someone I care about get ‘suspended indefinitely’ after a thin-skinned president demanded his removal, with our company’s CEO even being threatened by an FCC chairman. This is a critical moment for freedom,” she added.

Kimmel faced a brief suspension from ABC and Disney after making remarks that accused conservatives of attempting to manipulate the narrative surrounding Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin. He criticized the “MAGA gang” for trying to distance themselves from the actions of the accused.

Though Kimmel’s show returned within a week, the fallout for McNerney has been difficult, particularly regarding political differences with her family. In a recent podcast, she mentioned feelings of anger towards family members who voted for former President Donald Trump.

“It hurts, really, because it feels like their support for Trump means they’re not supporting my husband and our family. I’ve lost relationships because of this,” McNerney admitted.