John Stamos Disables Comments After Speaking Out On ABC Suspending ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’

John Stamos^[1] is speaking out in support of Jimmy Kimmel^[2] after “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was abruptly suspended by ABC this week. The network pulled the late-night staple following backlash over Kimmel’s controversial remarks about MAGA supporters in the wake of Charlie Kirk^[3]’s assassination, sparking a heated debate about free speech and comedy in today’s climate. Now, John Stamos is adding his voice to the growing list of Hollywood stars defending the host.

On Thursday, Stamos shared a throwback photo on Instagram^[4] of himself alongside Kimmel and legendary comic Don Rickles from a past taping of the late-night show. In his caption, the “Full House” actor reflected on how comedy has always been about testing limits, while wondering how someone like Rickles would fare in today’s environment.

“Me, Jimmy Kimmel, and the great Don Rickles,” Stamos wrote. “Comedy has always pushed boundaries, but I wonder how someone like Don would navigate the world today, where every word is weighed, replayed, and judged in real time. What I do know is that he made people laugh, and laughter is something we could all use a little more of right now.”

The post quickly racked up thousands of likes, though it didn’t go unnoticed that the “Big Shot” actor decided to disable comments, likely to avoid any political debates or backlash.

ABC confirmed this week that “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” has been taken off the air indefinitely^[5] after the host’s controversial monologue about the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk^[6]. The move followed sharp criticism from FCC chair Brendan Carr, who accused Kimmel of attempting to “directly mislead the American public” and threatened action against ABC and its parent company Disney if they failed to respond.

Carr denounced the comments as “the sickest conduct possible” and warned that the FCC could escalate matters if Kimmel wasn’t disciplined. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr told conservative podcast host Benny Johnson.

Within hours, Nexstar Media, one of the largest owners of ABC affiliate stations, announced it would not air the show “for the foreseeable future.”

The company called Kimmel’s remarks “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse,” a move Carr applauded while encouraging other broadcasters to follow suit. Nexstar is currently awaiting FCC approval for its planned $6.2 billion merger with Tegna.

Kimmel’s latest controversy is far from the first time he has clashed with Donald Trump^[7]. The late-night host has spent years lampooning the president on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and during major hosting gigs, building one of the most public rivalries in entertainment.

One of the most memorable clashes came at the 96th Academy Awards in March 2024. As Oscars host, Kimmel decided to close the ceremony with a dramatic reading of Trump’s scathing Truth Social review of his performance^[8]. “Has there EVER been a WORSE HOST than Jimmy Kimmel at The Oscars. His opening was that of a less than average person trying too hard to be something which he is not, and never can be,” Kimmel recited, word for word.

The gag was not part of the show’s official script. In fact, Kimmel later revealed producers told him not to do it. “I’m like, ‘I’m reading the Trump tweet,’” he recalled in a post-show interview. “And they’re like, ‘No, no don’t read that.’”

But Kimmel forged ahead, earning laughs from the audience, including Jodie Foster, who was seen chuckling on camera. He ended the bit by thanking Trump for watching and quipping, “Isn’t it past your jail time?”

Kimmel’s feud with Trump^[9] dates back even before his presidency. In 2015, while Trump was campaigning for his first term in the White House, he abruptly canceled a scheduled appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” at the last minute, citing a “prior obligation.”

Kimmel shared the news during a chat with Howard Stern^[10], telling the audience with a smirk, “Donald Trump canceled on us last night. I don’t know what happened. We’re delighted, needless to say.” The studio audience erupted in boos at the mention of Trump, prompting Kimmel to add, “Now he’s glad he didn’t come, I guess …”

True to form, Kimmel couldn’t resist poking fun at Trump’s excuse. “I’m dying to find out what this major political commitment was,” he joked. “Usually, it means he had to go on CNN to call someone an idiot, or something. Why did he cancel? We told him there were cameras here, right? Are Tuesday nights the night he volunteers down at the orphanage?”

He ended the bit with a stinging punchline aimed at Trump’s signature style. “Don’t worry, we’re giving everyone in our audience a basketball dipped in cologne,” he said before the punchline, “So you can fully experience what it would have been like if he was here.”