Howard Stern didn’t get fired from SiriusXM despite endless reports saying just that.
It’s increasingly hard to separate news from fiction, and part of that is our collective fault. We want certain narratives to be true, so we swallow stories that reflect our worldview. Blame the rest on a media machine that pumps out Fake News without shame.
A similar situation is unfolding with Jimmy Kimmel.
The far-Left comedian has been suspended by ABC after suggesting Charlie Kirk’s killer was part of the MAGA movement. The media spent the last 24 hours insisting you didn’t hear what you actually heard, so let’s share exactly what Kimmel said on Sept. 15:
“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.” (emphasis added)
It’s ghoulish to say that, knowing the opposite is true by all currently known information. Tyler Robinson shifted to the Left in recent months, loathed Kirk and carved far-Left messages on his weapons.
Here’s what we know at this point in the news cycle:
The Media Is on War Footing Over Suspension
Legacy Media outlets lost their collective minds when CBS canned both “The Late Show” and its far-Left host Stephen Colbert earlier this year. That media reaction may be tame compared to what we’re seeing now.
Kimmel Appears Unrepentant
The comic host could have backpedaled and/or apologized for his comments the following night. He was 100 percent wrong, and Kirk’s death is a national tragedy. We’re a forgiving country, and a heartfelt “my bad” would go a long way.
Except Kimmel did no such thing. And according to reports, he planned to double down had he been able to resume his show Wednesday night. We all make mistakes. Kimmel’s was born out of naked ideology.
FCC Chair’s Comments Weren’t Good or Helpful
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr warned that the government could take action on Kimmel’s original comments. That ties to the notion that broadcast platforms serve the public good, and malicious lies are antithetical to that rule.
He’s technically right, but it’s a very dangerous path to go down. It’s also something that could easily be weaponized by unscrupulous players on the Left and Right.
The Biden administration did plenty to curb free expression. Imagine what President Ocasio-Cortez would do with such a precedent?
The Left’s Censorship Cries Stink of Hypocrisy
There isn’t enough space on the Interwebs to share all the liberal hypocrisy on this issue. The Left ignored or placated Cancel Culture for years. It ignored the rise of Sensitivity Readers who censored new and existing art. They watched in silence as comedians self-censored for fear of career repercussions.
To liberals crying, “but what about free speech,” we say, “pound sand. Hard.”
This Isn’t OG Cancel Culture
Cancel Culture punished comedians for jokes they told a decade ago. Maybe more. It crucified stars for things they did when they were barely adults. It pummeled artists for sharing the “wrong” views on key issues, even if many others rightfully agreed with those views.
This … this … isn’t Cancel Culture. Kimmel’s big lie was nauseating, inappropriate and demanded a retraction. Period. And, if he had done that, none of this might have happened.
ABC May Be Embracing the Situation
CBS canceled “The Late Show” in part because it’s losing the network $40 million a year. It’s a no-brainer to cut ties with a format that no longer matters in a 21st-century media world.
What about Kimmel?
Is “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” a cash cow? Late-night revenues have been cratering for some time. Kimmel draws between 1.2 and 1.7 million per episode. That’s lower than Colbert’s “Late Show” viewership.
Some reports suggest ABC wouldn’t mind getting out of the Jimmy Kimmel business. It’s a topic worth exploring.
The Liberal Bubble Bit Kimmel
It may say, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” but the show is taped and features a written monologue. That means someone had to pen that MAGA lie and, most likely, several staffers read it before the show’s taping. Did anyone raise their hand and say, “No, that’s inaccurate. Should we change the line before we hit record?”
Apparently not.
Even worse? No one spoke up the following day, when Team Kimmel could have served up that aforementioned apology. They were all caught up in the liberal bubble, the one that told them Kirk’s killer was MAGA through and through.
Legacy Media lies set this in motion, just as Fox News’ David Marcus said.
Both Sides Should Learn from KimmelGate
Conservatives have been a bit too gleeful about Kimmel’s suspension. It appears that the government AKA Orange Man Bad wasn’t to blame here. It still could happen that way. President Trump often bloviates about shutting down speech. And, even if he doesn’t follow through on his bluster, it’s a terrible look and precedent.
Carr’s comments were Trumpian in the worst ways, too.
We all should be vigilant about governmental overreach, and to do so, we must put our partisan blinders to the side.