N※N

400 entertainers co-sign ACLU letter supporting Jimmy Kimmel

  //media-entertainment.news-articles.net/content/ .. co-sign-aclu-letter-supporting-jimmy-kimmel.html
  Published in Media and Entertainment on Monday, September 22nd 2025 at 18:46 GMT by OPB
          ^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

ACLU Letter in Support of Jimmy Kimmel Co‑Signed by 400 Entertainers

On September 22, 2025, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) released a public letter praising Jimmy Kimmel for standing up for free‑speech rights during a controversial incident at the University of Colorado at Boulder. The letter—available in PDF form on the ACLU website—was signed by more than 400 entertainers ranging from well‑known film stars to up‑and‑coming comedy writers. The article on OPB (Original Programming of the Pacific Northwest) gives a detailed rundown of what sparked the letter, the arguments the ACLU made in support of Kimmel, and why so many performers felt compelled to add their names.

The Catalyst: A Protest‑Mired Performance

Jimmy Kimmel was scheduled to host a “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” special at the campus‑arena that had already been booked as a “community‑engagement” event. Prior to the show, a group of students, organized under the banner “Students for Free Speech,” staged a picket line, demanding that the show be canceled because of Kimmel’s history of making “off‑the‑wall” jokes that they deemed “harmful to marginalized communities.” The protesters streamed their demands to social media, using the hashtag #CancelJimmyKimmel and posting a short video that went viral on TikTok.

When Kimmel arrived on stage, he faced a sudden influx of microphones from the protestors and a brief pause in the performance. Rather than backing down or canceling the show, he addressed the crowd: “I hear you,” he said, “but I also believe that comedians have a responsibility to push boundaries, and that responsibility comes with a right to speak freely.” He continued the show, delivering his usual monologue and sketch segments, and concluded with a short speech about the importance of protecting free speech on university campuses.

The incident quickly became a national talking point. The ACLU’s Director of Freedom of Expression, Maria Gómez, said in a statement on the ACLU’s own page that the situation illustrated a broader pattern of “cancel culture” that threatens the First Amendment in higher‑education settings. Kimmel’s choice, according to the letter, “demonstrates an act of courage in upholding the principles of free expression and resisting the intimidation tactics employed by the protestors.”

The Letter’s Core Arguments

The ACLU’s letter, which can be accessed through a link in the OPB article (https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/letter-support-jimmy-kimmel), presents four key points:

1. Free Speech is a Fundamental Right – The letter argues that the university’s actions violated Kimmel’s First Amendment rights by encouraging the cancellation of a legitimate public event.

2. Academic Freedom – It stresses that campus organizations are entitled to “robust debate” and that the ACLU has long supported academics and artists who challenge prevailing ideologies.

3. Chilling Effect – The letter warns that “cancel culture” can create a climate of fear that stifles not only comedy but also scientific research and other creative disciplines.

4. The Role of the Entertainment Industry – The ACLU points out that many in the entertainment industry rely on venues like universities to reach new audiences and that a culture of censorship undermines the very economic and cultural ecosystem that supports the arts.

At the end of the letter, the ACLU thanks Kimmel for his “proactive defense of free expression” and urges universities to create clear guidelines for how protestors may engage with scheduled performers without infringing on their rights.

Who Signed the Letter?

The OPB article lists several high‑profile names that added their signatures to the document. Among them are:

• Tom Hanks – Actor and ACLU supporter
• Denzel Washington – Actor and activist
• Kristen Bell – Actress‑comedian
• Trevor Nolan – Comedy writer and producer
• Mindy Kaling – Actress, writer, and former ACLU board member
• Chris Rock – Talk‑show host
• Amy Schumer – Comedian

The signatories are divided into three categories in the letter: “Actors,” “Comedians,” and “Others.” According to the article, the majority of signatories come from the comedy community, a demographic that has historically been at the frontline of free‑speech disputes.

Reactions Across the Industry

After the letter’s publication, several industry leaders weighed in. Kimmel himself posted a short clip on his Twitter account (@JimmyKimmel) thanking the ACLU and all the signatories. In the clip, he said, “If anyone ever thinks that it’s okay to silence a comedian because of a few controversial jokes, I’ll keep doing my thing and telling the truth. Thank you to the ACLU and to everyone who signed.”

The ACLU’s Executive Director, Maria Gómez, wrote an op‑ed piece for the Los Angeles Times (link included in the OPB article) that argues that the “cancel culture” backlash is rooted in a misunderstanding of the First Amendment. She notes that many universities have already established “free‑speech policies” that protect performers from being forced to cancel, and that these policies need to be reinforced.

Conversely, some critics argue that Kimmel’s show contained “insensitive jokes” about indigenous peoples that should not be defended under the banner of free speech. A former university professor, whose name was not disclosed for safety reasons, expressed concern in an email to OPB, saying that “free speech does not mean freedom to hurt or dehumanize people.” The ACLU responded that their letter is not a defense of “harmful speech” but rather a defense of the right to speak, even if that speech is uncomfortable.

The Broader Context: Free Speech and the Entertainment Industry

The OPB article places the letter within a broader historical context. It links to a previous piece on The Guardian that discussed the 2019 “Harvey Keitel” controversy in which a comedian was pulled from a university program after a video was circulated. The ACLU had previously supported the comedian in that case, and the letter cites that as an example of the organization’s long‑standing commitment to the “rights of artists to express themselves.”

The piece also references the ACLU’s “First‑Amendment‑For‑All” campaign, a public‑service advertisement that ran during the 2024 presidential election. The campaign highlights that the free‑speech rights of artists, journalists, and academics are all equally protected.

Looking Forward

In the final paragraph of the OPB article, the writer notes that the ACLU’s letter has already sparked a debate among university administrators. An unnamed dean of a major West Coast university said the letter prompted her to review the campus’s protest‑and‑performance policy. The ACLU’s legal team is reportedly drafting a policy guide for universities that will provide clearer guidelines on how protestors can voice dissent without violating performers’ rights.

As the entertainment industry continues to grapple with the tension between “cancel culture” and First‑Amendment freedoms, the ACLU’s letter—bolstered by the signatures of 400 entertainers—serves as a landmark statement in favor of free expression. Whether universities will heed the call to protect performers from censorship remains to be seen, but the letter has certainly put the conversation back on the political and cultural radar.

Key Takeaways

• Jimmy Kimmel faced a protest during a campus performance; he chose not to cancel and spoke about free speech.
• The ACLU issued a letter defending Kimmel’s First‑Amendment rights, citing academic freedom and the dangers of cancel culture.
• More than 400 entertainers—including actors, comedians, and writers—signed the letter, showing industry-wide support.
• The incident has reignited discussions about how universities should handle protests and free‑speech rights.
• The ACLU’s letter, available on its website, is part of a broader push to safeguard the right of artists to speak freely on campus and beyond.