Free Speech, Media Power, and Biblical Truth

Whether you like Jimmy Kimmel or not, his words were deemed inflammatory by those who he answered: specifically, Nexstar, Sinclair, and a few other smaller networks. He was rendered speechless for the foreseeable future. I believe the word they used was indefinitely - at least for the Jimmy Kimmel Show. 

But this action begs the question: was his free speech violated, or is the system finally correcting? 

“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it." These were Jimmy’s words. And then he proceeded to paint the President in a negative light.

 So was the network wrong? Was Jimmy wrong? Does it matter? 

Well, it does matter, regardless of the answers to the first questions.

The suspension came quite fast — within about 24 to 48 hours after Kimmel’s remarks — as affiliate and regulatory pressures mounted. It seems unlikely that ABC paused to conduct any meaningful “sentiment analysis” from viewers. Instead, the speed of the decision points to a reactive measure, with affiliate pull-outs and external regulatory threats serving as the main triggers. While public backlash may have contributed, the more concrete drivers appear to have been the affiliates’ refusal to air the show and the looming threat of federal scrutiny. So this move seemed more about money than respecting Charlie Kirk and what he stood for as well as our current President.

But isn’t this bigger than Jimmy Kimmel? It’s about the precedent: if a handful of powerful companies and regulators can silence one of the biggest names in late-night television overnight, what does that mean for smaller voices? What about churches, ministries, and individuals speaking biblical truth that doesn’t align with the cultural narrative?

If money is the driver, and God get the unpopular vote, then anyone standing for Him can also be cancelled unless enough God fearing affiliates step up to the plate and back the truth.

Yes. This is much bigger than Jimmy Kimmel.

What scripture tells us is that speech is never neutral. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). Whether Kimmel was wrong, or the network was wrong, or both — words carry weight. They can build up, or they can destroy.

The Bible also tells us that freedom of speech is not the ultimate measure — truth is. “You shall not bear false witness” (Exodus 20:16). The danger comes when a culture, a government, or even a corporation takes the authority to decide what is “acceptable” truth and silences anything that doesn’t align with it. “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil”. (Isaiah 5:20).

As believers, we see in Acts 4 that the apostles themselves were told by the authorities to stop speaking publicly about Jesus. Their answer? “We must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29). In other words, no matter who holds the microphone or the broadcast license, the ultimate accountability for speech lies with God.

So was Jimmy wrong? Maybe. Was the network wrong? Possibly. But the bigger question for us is: what happens when the precedent is set that speech — even satire, even commentary — can be suspended at the whim of those in power? If secular voices are vulnerable, what of the gospel? Who makes the ultimate decision of whose voice stays and whose voice goes?

And what voice is the right voice?

Measured against the Word of God, Jimmy’s words were not spoken in love or grace, and they reflected only a truth that served his own narrative. Scripture tells us we will know a tree by its fruit (Matthew 7:16-17), and this is how we discern what voices we should allow to shape us. Words that tear down, divide, or inflame are not the fruit of the Spirit.

For Christians, this moment is a reminder: the media can silence a man, but “the word of God is not chained” (2 Timothy 2:9). We live in a time where many want to hear what makes them feel better, or makes them the most money, but the truth always stays the truth. Our job is to know the truth and align ourselves with it.

As for Jimmy, we shouldn’t celebrate his misfortune. He believes he’s on the correct side of things. That’s his truth because he doesn’t use the Bible or God as his plumbline. But we don’t wish him harm and hope he finds a better road, one lined with grace and ultimately the type of redemption only Christ can offer.