By Ryan “Dickie” Thompson
Disruptarian.com
The Arrogance of Consequence-Free Lies
For years, late-night comedians, celebrity activists, and media talking heads have operated under the smug assumption that their words carry no cost. They mock, smear, and openly fantasize about violence against their political enemies. They celebrate when conservatives are censored or canceled, and they assume their platform shields them from accountability.
The assassination of Charlie Kirk has shattered that illusion. It exposed how deeply corrosive this rhetoric has become, how false narratives poison the public, and how some of the most powerful media figures are finally paying a price.
Jimmy Kimmel Crossed a Line
Jimmy Kimmel is no stranger to partisan attacks. He celebrated Donald Trump being banned from Twitter, cheered when Tucker Carlson was pushed off Fox News, and turned his show into a nightly megaphone for Democratic talking points.
But after Charlie Kirk was murdered, Kimmel went further. He declared that the shooter was “one of them,” a MAGA Republican, despite the absence of any evidence. In reality, the shooter had written “fascist” on bullets used in the attack and was reportedly tied to left-wing politics, including having a gay, furry, transgender roommate according to reports.
That is not a slip of the tongue. That is a reckless lie. It smeared a man who had just been assassinated and cast suspicion on millions of Americans by linking them to the crime.
Backlash came quickly. Advertisers were pressured. Affiliates like Sinclair and Nexstar demanded an apology and suspended his program. The FCC chair Brendan Carr hinted at possible regulatory action. Whether it was panic over lost revenue or genuine disgust, ABC pulled Kimmel off the air in many markets.
Sources:
- AP News: Why was Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show suspended?
- The Guardian: Trump v Kimmel: simmering feud ends with comedian’s talkshow yanked off air
Walsh Was Right: Rhetoric Has Consequences
Matt Walsh pointed out the obvious: for years conservatives shrugged off this behavior. Meanwhile, the left weaponized cancel culture, cheering when political opponents lost jobs for much less.
Walsh argued that Kimmel’s rhetoric was not comedy but partisan propaganda, violating the very rules that govern the use of public broadcast airwaves. Whether or not the FCC ever enforces those standards, the point stands: lying about crimes, especially political assassinations, is not “public interest.”
And here’s the harder truth: this climate is not new. The assassination of Charlie Kirk is horrific, but it did not happen in a vacuum. High-profile figures have been normalizing violent rhetoric against conservatives and Trump for years.
Celebrities Who Flirted With Assassination Rhetoric
This pattern goes back nearly a decade. Some of the most famous celebrities in the world have invoked violence against Trump or conservatives:
- Madonna: At the 2017 Women’s March, she said she had thought “an awful lot about blowing up the White House.” She later claimed it was a metaphor.
CNN Coverage - Johnny Depp: At the Glastonbury Festival in 2017 he asked, “When was the last time an actor assassinated a president? … Maybe it’s time.” He later apologized.
BBC Coverage - Kathy Griffin: Infamous for a photo shoot holding a bloody, severed Trump head. She lost her CNN New Year’s Eve job and faced Secret Service investigation.
NY Times Coverage - Snoop Dogg: In a 2017 music video, he pointed a toy gun at a Trump clown.
Rolling Stone Coverage - Maria Chappelle-Nadal (Democratic Missouri state senator): Posted “I hope Trump is assassinated!” on Facebook. She was stripped of committee posts.
Washington Post Coverage
This is not fringe talk. These are mainstream entertainers and politicians feeding a culture where violence becomes thinkable.
The Fallout After Charlie Kirk
The assassination of Charlie Kirk brought this into sharper relief:
- Workers Fired or Disciplined: Dozens across industries faced penalties for celebrating Kirk’s death.
The Guardian - Threats Multiplying: Federal authorities are tracking threats related to Kirk’s funeral and political fallout.
NPR - Escalating Violence: In Arizona, Treven Michael Gokey allegedly threatened to “shoot up” an LGBTQ bar, calling himself a “martyr for Charlie Kirk.”
People Magazine
The rhetoric, the celebrations, the hypocrisy—these all pour fuel on the fire. And unlike in the past, people are finally losing jobs and facing legal consequences for it.
The Lesson: Liberty Requires Consistency
Here’s the point. Free speech is vital. But lying about assassinations, smearing entire movements as “fascists,” or joking about blowing up the White House is not harmless. It normalizes hate and it invites escalation.
If you believe in liberty, the standard must be consistent:
- Don’t cheer censorship when it hits your enemies.
- Don’t excuse violent rhetoric when it comes from your side.
- Hold everyone accountable to truth and integrity.
Charlie Kirk’s assassination is a tragedy. The reactions to it—Kimmel’s lies, public celebrations, corporate silence until the backlash came—reveal a sickness in our culture. That sickness festers when elites feel untouchable. Maybe now, finally, they are not.
Sources
- AP News
- The Guardian
- CNN on Madonna
- BBC on Johnny Depp
- NY Times on Kathy Griffin
- Rolling Stone on Snoop Dogg
- Washington Post on Maria Chappelle-Nadal
- The Guardian on workers disciplined
- NPR on threats
- People Magazine
