400 celebs sign freedom of speech letter ahead of Jimmy Kimmel return

Meryl Streep, Ben Affleck, Tom Hanks, and Jennifer Aniston are among more than 400 celebrities rallied behind Jimmy Kimmel just as it was announced his late-night show will return after a brief suspension.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the group signed an open letter on Monday, September 22, warning of a “dark moment for freedom of speech” following ABC’s decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel Live! from the air.

“We the people must never accept government threats to our freedom of speech,” the letter begins. “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.”

The letter called Kimmel’s removal “a dark moment for freedom of speech,” adding, “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.”

Signatories also included Selena Gomez, Pedro Pascal, Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, and Mark Ruffalo. 

The late-night program, hosted by Kimmel since 2003, was yanked just hours before its September 17 broadcast after his comments on Charlie Kirk’s fatal shooting. 

After widespread backlash, ABC has confirmed the show will return.