David Letterman has strongly criticized ABC’s decision to indefinitely suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live! following the late-night host’s controversial comments about the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. The veteran host, aged 78, expressed his disapproval at the Atlantic Festival in New York, labeling the move as an attack on free expression. He emphasized that firing someone out of fear or to appease an authoritarian regime is unjust.

Letterman likened the suspension to living in a dictatorship and disclosed that he had received a message from Kimmel, assuring that he will be fine despite the situation. The backlash arose after Kimmel’s monologue, where he criticized the response of Donald Trump to the tragic incident, prompting ABC to pull the show indefinitely. President Trump welcomed the decision, claiming victory over the show’s cancellation.

Celebrities and political figures voiced their support for Kimmel, with Ben Stiller and John Legend condemning the suspension. MSNBC host Chris Hayes described the action as a blatant attack on free speech by state actors. Letterman, reflecting on his three-decade career in late-night television, criticized the industry’s tendency towards cowardice in the face of political pressure.

The suspension of Kimmel’s show has sparked concerns over freedom of speech and potential authoritarian control in the media landscape. Charlie Kirk, the conservative commentator whose assassination sparked the controversy, was tragically killed last week at Utah Valley University. Tyler Robinson, the accused gunman, is facing multiple charges, including aggravated murder.