The Right and Left have always been at odds, pointing out each other’s flaws and celebrating or denouncing whenever something does or doesn’t go their way. Jimmy Kimmel being taken out is certainly another level of alarm for people since the government was allegedly directly involved. However, one person you might never have imagined to show support would be Donald Trump’s estranged bestie, Elon Musk. Courtesy of r/agedlikemilk, online users have fished out an old tweet by Musk proclaiming, “Make comedy legal again!“
Granted, this post from 2024 was Elon Musk speaking out in support of Jerry Seinfeld’s statement that comedy is dying because of the “extreme left, PC crap, & people worrying so much about offending other people.” Even this month, Seinfeld has done his best to stay edgy and step on people’s toes with the whole comparison of pro-Palestine protestors and the KKK, saying that “Free Palestine” is worse than the racist extremists, per NBC. Yet, freedom of speech prevails, and he and many other comedians have gotten away with saying many shocking comments. After all, that’s what the First Amendment is all about, right?
Well, US free speech is all but free until the government comes in and gets involved, and that’s what the internet is concerned about this time around regarding Jimmy Kimmel’s cancellation. Elon Musk has been outspoken against how “you can’t make fun of people anymore,” along with many other alt-right people. But the main reason the Left is so outraged is because President Trump reportedly had a say in it all and was even speaking on it months ago, according to Variety.
As for Elon Musk’s indirect support of Jimmy Kimmel’s predicament, a Reddit commenter has clarified via interpretation of the tweet: “they meant racist/homophobic jokes. They think left leaning comedians being fired is great.” Other people chimed in, expressing that this is not an attack on a left-leaning comedian or late-night show host. This is a direct attack on free speech for a comedian’s comment. Obviously, TV show hosts and especially comedians are no strangers to backlash. In fact, some actively farm the attention for publicity’s sake. But it’s about the FCC pressuring and allegedly threatening media companies and even mega corporations like Disney to do what it wants. That’s not what “The Land of the Free and The Home of the Brave” has ever stood for.
As one Reddit user states, “Cancel Culture isn’t even a new concept.” It’s been a weapon used by both sides throughout history. Conservatives held enough at one time to tear apart the livelihoods of people for being “different,” like gay individuals. The Left did hold control for some time, but now the power has shifted back with the current administration backing it, tearing apart the lives of farmers, immigrants, trans people, and now a well-established comedian. Of course, the list could go on, but at the very least, we can say ‘Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and Friends’ love free speech just as any leftist does, just under their terms, plus political power to back it up.
