Former President Barack Obama Weighs In On Freedom Of Speech And Government Coercion In The Midst Of Jimmy Kimmel

Proof that we have to watch what we say, ABC announced on Wednesday evening that it was pulling Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show “indefinitely” after conservatives accused the longtime host of inaccurately describing the politics of the man who is accused of fatally shooting the right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.  Jimmy Kimmel isn’t the first and our forever President Barack Obama is weighing in on what is being perceived as the government coercion that the Freedom of Speech was designed to prevent.

In addition to Jimmy Kimmel, at least 12 others — including three from major media and communications firms — have faced firing, suspension or reassignment for their comments.

Former President Barack Obama took to his social media to say this:

“After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like,”

The former President Barack Obama also shared a Vox article titled “Let’s be Clear About What Happened to Jimmy Kimmel,” that states that Kimmel, was taken off the air “because the Trump administration didn’t like what he had to say—and threatened his employer until they shut him up.”

In a separate post, former President Barack Obama wrote:

“This is precisely the kind of government coercion that the First Amendment was designed to prevent—and media companies need to start standing up rather than capitulating to it,”

Back in 2015 as president, Barack Obama appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to participate in the “Mean Tweets” segment, where he read insulting posts about himself from social media.

See Former President Barack Obama’s posts below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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