"For years, whenever a public figure has faced backlash and consequences for social media posts, public comments or even private statements that offended people, self-proclaimed defenders of free speech would insist that the First Amendment rights of their fellow Americans were being violated. Their argument was flawed because a groundswell of backlash over bad behavior resulting in, say, a private company cutting ties with a controversial figure is about the market, not about the government."
"But I have good news for free speech defenders and cancel culture abolitionists: a clear-cut case of actual First Amendment infringement the federal government abridging the freedom of speech of an individual and his employer is playing out right now. The individual is Jimmy Kimmel, whose late-night talk show has been pulled indefinitely from ABC's schedule, following threats from Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr. Those threats were prompted by comments Kimmel made in his opening monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Monday night."
Many people misunderstand the First Amendment and frequently claim constitutional violation when private backlash causes companies to cut ties. Market-driven consequences by private actors do not constitute government abridgement of speech. A clear instance of government infringement involves late-night host Jimmy Kimmel and ABC. Kimmel's show was pulled indefinitely after Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr threatened investigation and retaliation. Carr's threats followed comments Kimmel made about a murderer tied to MAGA, after Kimmel had expressed condolences to the victim's family. Carr warned ABC with confrontational language, signaling federal pressure on a broadcaster.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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