Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert issued a bold political message after the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! over Jimmy Kimmel‘s remarks on Charlie Kirk‘s death.
On Wednesday, Sept. 17, Nexstar—one of ABC‘s largest affiliate groups—pulled the late-night show. Nexstar told Variety that its “owned and partner television stations affiliated with the ABC Television Network will preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! for the foreseeable future, beginning with tonight’s show.”
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That evening, Gilbert, 61, took to Instagram with a short but impactful response to the news, writing, “Without peaceful disagreement, there is no freedom at all.”
In the comments, followers of the former child actress behind Laura Ingalls Wilder were divided with their reactions. Many supported her stance on freedom of speech.
One Instagram user wrote, “We have fallen further then I could ever have imagined…..”
Another agreed, writing, “The descent into fascism is well underway 😢.”
Related: Little House on the Prairie’s Melissa Gilbert Sends Message After Charlie Kirk’s Death
Someone else shared, “What would Laura Ingalls do!!! 💪.”
Meanwhile, another fan pointed out, “Jimmy Kimmel has maintained a position of respect regarding the assassination of Charlie K. On September 10th, he took to Instagram to denounce the act. Then, on September 15th, he provided his thoughts on the President’s response to this incident. It’s essential to safeguard Freedom of Speech, as this situation represents a significant challenge to those rights.”
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However, other Instagram users spoke out against Gilbert’s post, with one follower commenting, “The key is peaceful and both sides.”
Someone else shared, “Peaceful disagreement… that’s what Charlie wanted. It’s what Charlie did at college campuses across this country. He stood up, handed anyone who wanted it a mic and had peaceful disagreements using biblical truth and his faith to back his argument. At the end of the day Jimmy Kimmel gets to go home to his wife and kids. I think he should be grateful. Charlie’s kids think he is on a business trip with Jesus!!!!”
Yet another Instagram user echoed, “I know someone who was good at civil conversation. Who used freedom of speech, he spoke his view while sharing that platform for those who had differing viewpoints. Sadly, he lost his life for it.”
On Sept. 11, Kimmelresponded to Kirk’s Sept. 10 fatal shooting on his show, sharing, “I’ve seen some extraordinarily vile responses to this from both sides of the political spectrum. Some people are cheering this, which is something I won’t ever understand.”
He then addressed Trump and his supporters’ responses to Kirk’s death on Sept. 15.
“We had some new lows over the weekend,” he said on Jimmy Kimmel Live! “With the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and with everything they can to score political points from it.”
Next: Rosie O’Donnell Issues Bold Political Response to Suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
