Tom Hanks, Tom Morello & Adam Horowitz defend Jimmy Kimmel
Following the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel by ABC, over 400 actors and musicians have signed an open letter by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) defending free speech and condemning government actions that put that right at risk.
Signatories include Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Beastie Boys’ Adam Horovitz (aka Ad-Rock), Sheryl Crow, Cyndi Lauper, Olivia Rodrigo, actors Tom Hanks, Ben Stiller, Pedro Pascal, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Bacon, Bryan Cranston, and hundreds more.
“We the people must never accept government threats to our freedom of speech. Efforts by leaders to pressure artists, journalists, and companies with retaliation for their speech strike at the heart of what it means to live in a free country,” the letter reads.
“Last week, Jimmy Kimmel was taken off the air after the government threatened a private company with retaliation, marking a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation. In an attempt to silence its critics, our government has resorted to threatening the livelihoods of journalists, talk show hosts, artists, creatives, and entertainers across the board. This runs counter to the values our nation was built upon, and our Constitution guarantees.”
The letter continues: “We know this moment is bigger than us and our industry. Teachers, government employees, law firms, researchers, universities, students and so many more are also facing direct attacks on their freedom of expression.
“Regardless of our political affiliation, or whether we engage in politics or not, we all love our country. We also share the belief that our voices should never be silenced by those in power – because if it happens to one of us, it happens to all of us.
“This is the moment to defend free speech across our nation. We encourage all Americans to join us, along with the ACLU, in the fight to defend and preserve our constitutionally protected rights.”
Hours after this letter was published, the Walt Disney Company announced it was ending Kimmel’s suspension and that his show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” would return to ABC starting Tuesday (Sept. 23rd).
