Late night legend Conan O'Brien breaks silence on Jimmy Kimmel with rare political statement

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Independent

Friday 19 September 2025 16:32 EDT


Late-night TV legend Conan O'Brien has broken his usual silence on politics to speak out in defense of Jimmy Kimmel after his show was suspended following comments he made in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

"The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel and the promise to silence other late night hosts for criticizing the administration should disturb everyone on the right, left, and center. It’s wrong and anyone with a conscience knows it’s wrong," the veteran talk show host said on X Friday.

It was a rare venture into hot-button issues for O'Brien, who has long said he prefers to leave political commentary to other comedians and has criticized boilerplate anti-Trump barbs in the past.

But this week he joined fellow late night hosts David Letterman, Jay Leno, Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert in standing by Kimmel. ABC confirmed that Kimmel’s show would be suspended “indefinitely” after the comedian said the “MAGA gang” was trying to “score political points” from the fatal shooting of Kirk during his Monday monologue. Kimmel did not mock or celebrate Kirk's death, which he previously condemned as "senseless murder".

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/jimmy-kimmel-charlie-kirk-conan-o-brien-b2830171.html

[FakeNoose]

1. Conan's safe from employment by networks now ... he's telling it like it is

This "deification" of Charlie Kirk is absolutely bonkers. If you're going to deify someone, pick a worthy person, not Kirk.

[regnaD kciN]

4. And Kimmel didn't even criticize Kirk...

…he was criticizing the regime for trying to score political points over Kirk’s murder. That was enough to make MAGA big mad.

[Scalded Nun]

7. The fact that he did not even criticize Kirk is irrelevant.

Like everything else in Trumpworld, facts have no meaning. It only matters what Trump says , and the mindless, witless, hate-filled cultists will march to whatever tune he says is playing.

[Skittles]

2. thanking Mr. Obrien

it is important to speak up while we still can

[thomski64]

3. Anyone with a conscience and half a brain..

...which would account for Krasnov not knowing...

[progressoid]

5. Conan is also a student of history.

He's no dummy.

[Polybius]

6. I've always loved Conan

He would be my first choice to replace Kimmel, should he not come back.

[summer_in_TX]

8. What's happening in the US isn't "cancel culture." It's an abuse of power.

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1342305460643064&set=a.588252606048357

Carrick Ryan is a former federal agent of Australia, a blogger and political commentator who has a BA in media and a masters degree in international relations. This was posted on his Facebook page. It's one of the better explanations I've seen of what happened to Jimmy Kimmel (and Stephen Colbert etc.) and why.

“It's really important everyone understands why what's happening in the US right now isn't the same "cancel culture" merely turned against progressives. This is far more alarming.
This isn't angry social media users demanding celebrities get fired... this the President of the USA abusing the powers of the state to eliminate criticism of him from the media.

There is no definitive evidence that The Late Show was cancelled to appease Trump, but it was only three days after making this joke that the show was unexpectedly cancelled. Paramount's merger, which had been under consideration by the FCC for more than a year, was suddenly approved nine days later.

Trump immediately shared a gloating post on Truth Social saying with his usual grace: “I absolutely love that Colbert got fired”, and added at the end of the long rambling diatribe: “I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next.”

Everything he is doing is designed to intimidate the media into self-censorship... and the terrifying part... it seems to be working.”

You shouldn't need a Facebook account to see the full post if you click on the link.

I copied the whole thing to use it to explain it to my kids.

[Amaryllis]

11. THis is worth making its own op. I didnt have any trouble accessing the rest of the FB post from your link.

[summer_in_TX]

12. Thanks for the nudge, Amaryllis.

I'll do that.

[Justice Brandeis]

9. And Bill Maher?

I look forward to hearing from him.

I can wait.

[red dog 1]

10. Shitler wants to revoke TV station licenses if they say anything negative about him.

https://democraticunderground.com/100220658534