Over 550 musicians, actors, directors, and writers have teamed up to revive the Committee For The First Amendment, a group formed in the late 1940s that opposed suppression of free speech.
Music stars such as Billie Eilish, Gracie Abrams, and Janelle Monae have joined alongside film luminaries such as Pedro Pascal, Spike Lee, and Jane Fonda, to oppose the recent government intervention in the media.
It comes following the recent controversy surrounding talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live, which was suspended on September 17 after threats made from government entity the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) over comments Kimmel made about the murder of Charlie Kirk. Many prominent entertainment figures, as well as the majority of entertainment guilds, called the suspension an attack of free speech.
Kimmel’s show was reinstated on September 23. The host addressed his comments regarding the shooting of Charlie Kirk, saying he never intended to “make light” of the murder, but stopping short of apologising for them. He also directed criticism at President Donald Trump, whom he claimed “wants to see me and hundreds of people who work here fired.”
The controversy has inspired over 550 creatives to resurrect The Committee For The First Amendment, which was created in 1947 amid a period of moral panic in US politics where many in the entertainment industry were accused of being Communists. It led to the suppression of prominent left-wing views, under the guise of protecting national security.
Rolling Stone reports that Jane Fonda is leading the initiative, with her late father Henry serving as a founder member of the committee’s original incarnation.
The committee’s official statement reads: “This Committee was initially created during the McCarthy Era, a dark time when the federal government repressed and persecuted American citizens for their political beliefs. They targeted elected officials, government employees, academics, and artists. They were blacklisted, harassed, silenced, and even imprisoned.”
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“The McCarthy Era ended when Americans from across the political spectrum finally came together and stood up for the principles in the Constitution against the forces of repression. Those forces have returned. And it is our turn to stand together in defence of our constitutional rights. The federal government is once again engaged in a coordinated campaign to silence critics in the government, the media, the judiciary, academia, and the entertainment industry.“
“We refuse to stand by and let that happen. Free speech and free expression are the inalienable rights of every American of all backgrounds and political beliefs – no matter how liberal or conservative you may be. The ability to criticize, question, protest, and even mock those in power is foundational to what America has always aspired to be.”
The statement continued: “We know there is power in solidarity and strength in numbers. We will stand together—fiercely united—to defend free speech and expression from this assault. This is not a partisan issue. That is why we urge every American who cares about the First Amendment—the cornerstone of our democracy—and every artist around the globe who looks to the United States as a beacon of freedom to join us.”
“And to those who profit from our work while threatening the livelihoods of everyday working people, bowing to government censorship, and cowering to brute intimidation: we see you and history will not forget. This will not be the last you hear from us.”
Backlash from Kimmel’s suspension has been felt by Disney, whose network ABC airs the show. A report from newsletter The Handbasket stated that Disney lost 1.7million subscribers across its streaming channels – Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN – following the suspension.
In other news, a member of Donald Trump‘s administration has confirmed that ICE will be present at Bad Bunny‘s 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show, calling the decision to have the star perform “shameful.”
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