Plenty of A-list stars have had Jimmy Kimmel's back, but will they do the same for a conservative woman of color?
The far-Left talker has flirted with cancellation during President Donald Trump's second term. First, Kimmel misled viewers last year about the man who allegedly killed Charlie Kirk, earning the former "Man Show" host a one-week benching.
More recently, he lobbed an assassination crack against the real estate mogul days before a third would-be assassin tried to remove Trump from office.
Meryl Streep is on Jimmy Kimmel's side as Donald Trump urges ABC/Disney to fire him.
— Variety (@Variety) May 1, 2026
The Oscar winner told Kimmel that he's "carrying the banner of freedom of the press" and added: "You’re a prince. You are a Knight Templar... We all depend on you — and the world is listening.… pic.twitter.com/XAdg4axdg4
Folks like Oscar Isaac, Jennifer Aniston, Jane Fonda, Meryl Streep and more have rushed to Kimmel's side, citing the First Amendment. And, of course, they have a valid argument.
Firing a comedian for telling the "wrong" joke evokes the worst of the woke era, a cultural toxicity we hope will go the way of the fax machine and 8-track tape.
Except Kimmel's free speech army doesn't actually defend all speech, and the latest proof is happening right now.
Singer M.I.A. just got booted off of Kid Cudi's tour for daring to share Republican-leaning views on stage. M.I.A. was one of the musicians' opening acts on his Rebel Ragers Tour, and during a May 2 Dallas concert she shared some horrific thought crimes:
“I’ve been canceled for many reasons. I never thought I would be canceled for being a brown Republican voter.”
“I can’t do ‘Illegal,’ though some of you could be in the audience.”
Her comments generated boos from the crowd, but that's hardly reason to boot her from the tour. Unless you're a progressive who doesn't believe in letting others share their points of view.
Kid Cudi's official response speaks volumes.
I told my management to send a notice to her team before we started tour that I didn’t want anything offensive at my shows, cuz I already knew what time it was, and I was assured things were understood. After the last couple shows, I’ve been flooded with messages from fans that were upset by her rants. This, to me, is very disappointing, and I wont have someone on my tour making offensive remarks that upsets my fanbase.
Offensive? If she called President Trump "Hitler" would that count? Here's guessing it wouldn't. Heck, she might get a raise.
Now, it's possible that Aniston, Fonda, Isaac and even Kimmel will rally to the singer's side. No, we don't agree with your views, but a proud woman of color shouldn't lose a good gig because of them.
Maybe Kimmel will invite M.I.A. to perform on his ABC showcase in a gesture of good faiith.
Even the "Dumb and Dumber" buddies know there's zero chance of anything of the kind actually happening.
How do we know? These stars haven't spoken up during the nasty free speech battles that rocked the culture over the past decade.
Remember The Twitter Files? Scary Poppins? The Hunter Biden laptop story's cancellation? Sensitivity readers erasing classic authors' words?
Streep and co. stayed mum through it all.
In fact, celebrities cheered when social media platforms booted President Trump in 2021. And when Gina Carano shared a clumsy but heartfelt plea for tolerance, Team Disney canned her from "The Mandalorian" and Kimme's free speech army went silent.
Again.
Only when a far-Left voice faces possible cancellation did they rise from their slumber.
Chances are, they'll sleep right through M.I.A.'s dismissal, too.
