John Oliver'S Fiery Call To Disney: Stand By Kimmel Or Regret It

John Oliver Sounds the Alarm

John Oliver is making waves with his impassioned plea to Disney and ABC to support Jimmy Kimmel, following Kimmel's indefinite suspension. Oliver sees this as a pivotal moment, not just for comedians like himself and Stephen Colbert, but for the broader landscape of free speech in America. In his latest Last Week Tonight segment, Oliver argued, "This Kimmel situation does feel like a turning point, and not because comedians are important but because we are not."

The controversy erupted after FCC chairman Brendan Carr allegedly used government influence to pressure ABC into suspending Kimmel. Oliver drew parallels to historical instances of media suppression, suggesting a slippery slope towards authoritarian control.

Government Pressure and Media Freedom

Oliver's concerns center around the FCC's actions, described by many as coercive. Carr's public comments on a podcast linking Kimmel's behavior to potential FCC consequences have caused uproar. As Oliver noted, this kind of governmental pressure echoes tactics seen in nations like Russia and Hungary, where media channels have faced suppression and control.

"If the government can force a network to pull a late-night show off the air and do so in plain view, it can do a f--k of a lot worse," Oliver warned.

Meanwhile, broadcaster Nexstar moved quickly to comply with these pressures, threatening to pull Kimmel from its line-up, ostensibly protecting their own merger interests. Oliver pointed out that this wasn't the first time Disney faced government intimidation, referencing a past settlement with Trump's administration.

Oliver's Bold Challenge to Disney

In wrapping up his segment, Oliver directly addressed Disney CEO Bob Iger, urging him to resist governmental bullying. "One day the history of the time we're living through is going to be written," Oliver remarked. "Now, don't get me wrong, they're going to come off terribly, but history's also going to remember the cowards who definitely knew better."

Oliver implored Disney to make a stand by supporting Kimmel and his team, rather than caving to political pressure. His suggestion to cancel subscriptions to Disney+ and Hulu if Disney fails to act is a call to action for the public.

As Oliver sees it, Disney has an opportunity to lead by example. "If we've learned nothing else from this administration's second term so far, and I don't think we have, it's that giving the bully your lunch money doesn't make him go away. It just makes him come back hungrier each time," he concluded, urging a firm stance against unwarranted demands.