Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks and Robert De Niro among signatories of ACLU letter decrying Disney’s move after Jimmy Kimmel made remarks on Kirk’s death
More than 400 Hollywood stars have signed an open letter by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) condemning Disney’s indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! under pressure from the Trump administration.
The letter, released five days after Disney “pre-empted” the late-night talkshow over host Jimmy Kimmel’s comments on the death of slain rightwing activist Charlie Kirk, calls on all Americans to defend their right to speak freely. It states that efforts to pressure artists, journalists and others with retaliation for their speech “strike at the heart of what it means to live in a free country”.
Signatories of the letter include Jennifer Aniston, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro, Jason Bateman, Jane Fonda, Selena Gomez, Olivia Rodrigo, Natalie Portman, Maya Rudolph, Martin Short, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Ben Stiller, Jamie Lee Curtis, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Keaton, Regina King, Diego Luna and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
“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,” the letter reads. “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.”
