Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and Jimmy Fallon all opened their late-night shows Thursday night with messages — some satirical, others serious — in solidarity with suspended ABC host Jimmy Kimmel. Kimmel’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! was pulled indefinitely following his remarks about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, sparking controversy over censorship and political pressure on broadcasters.

Stewart leaned into sharp satire, mocking ABC’s decision and lampooning President Donald Trump’s style of governance, while Colbert struck a more sober note, calling Kimmel’s suspension “blatant censorship.” Fallon, meanwhile, praised Kimmel as “a decent, funny and loving guy” but was humorously censored mid-monologue when his critiques of Trump were replaced with scripted flattery by an announcer.

The guest lineups underscored the divide in tone: Stewart interviewed journalist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa, who drew parallels to her own experience facing 11 arrest warrants in the Philippines, while Fallon welcomed Jude Law, Tom Llamas, and Jonathan Groff, none of whom addressed the controversy. Colbert also used his platform to emphasize the broader free speech concerns raised by Kimmel’s removal, signaling that late-night television is once again becoming a frontline in the battle over political expression.