Make no mistake about it, Disney/ABC’s decision to fold under intense public pressure lead by Hollywood Agents, Actors, Writers and producers, to “replatform” Jimmy Kimmel has nothing to do with protecting the First Amendment or flipping off Trump. Popok explains that Disney was effectively told that they would be blacklisted and made a pariah in Hollywood and no top flight talent would ever work for them again if they didn’t support Jimmy. In one sense, the “concept” of what Jimmy Kimmel stands for stands on the side of the scale to the Kirk movement, and Trump lost that battle.

In a letter defending free speech signed by over 400 artists, the ACLU said:

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.

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.

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.

In solidarity, [Continue reading…]