Stephen Colbert reacts to ABC ‘indefinitely’ suspending Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show

Stephen Colbert has spoken out in support of fellow late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.

During Thursday’s taping of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” Colbert addressed ABC pulling Kimmel’s show off the air indefinitely following Kimmel’s comments about Charlie Kirk.

“This is blatant censorship,” Colbert said, per CNBC.

“With an autocrat, you cannot give an inch,” he added, referring to President Donald Trump.

Colbert said he stood by Kimmel and Kimmel’s staff, dedicating Thursday’s show to free speech and to the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” staff.

Kimmel previously backed Colbert when Colbert’s “The Late Show” was canceled by CBS in July. Kimmel threw his Emmy support behind Colbert, who did end up winning this year’s Emmy for Outstanding Talk Series.

Both Colbert and Kimmel have been on the receiving end of Trump’s jabs.

Following CBS canceling “The Late Show,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, “I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings.”

“I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert!,” he added.

On Wednesday, Trump publicly gloated about Kimmel’s suspension via Truth Social, writing, “Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED.”

“Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done,” he added.

Trump also slammed late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers.

“Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible,” he wrote. “That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!! President DJT.”

Kimmel was spotted heading to his lawyer’s office Thursday in Los Angeles and gave a smirk to paparazzi.

“The Man Show” host is reportedly unwilling to apologize for his remarks about Kirk, despite Sinclair — the media company that operates as the largest ABC affiliate group — demanding that he issue a direct apology to Kirk’s family and to “make a meaningful personal donation to the Kirk Family and Turning Point USA” before he can come back on air.

The Daily Mail reported that Kimmel is now trying to get out of his contract with ABC.

“Jimmy is pissed over the decision to suspend him and the show and he isn’t going to take this lightly, as he is actively looking for ways to get out of his contract,” an insider told the outlet.

“This is the last straw and Jimmy is now looking to forever break his relationship with ABC forever.”