On MSNBC’s The Beat with Ari Melber, comedian DL Hughley joined a discussion about free speech, comedy, and censorship, weighing in on the controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel’s recent suspension and the wider debate over what entertainers are allowed to say.
Hughley, who has built a career using humor to dissect politics and culture, didn’t hold back when addressing what he sees as a glaring double standard. He argued that conservative figures often make inflammatory statements without facing comparable repercussions, while comedians and entertainers are swiftly punished for remarks that challenge the status quo. He argues that the purpose of the First Amendment is against the government using the leverage and power to stop freedom of speech.
Host Ari Melber framed the discussion as part of an ongoing “free speech war,” pointing out the increasing influence of political pressure, corporate concerns, and social media outrage on what performers can say.
He called out other conservative leaders, such as Laura Loomer for saying George Floyd had been sober for five years, Mike Lee for joking about the two Democratic lawmakers getting shot in Minnesota, Trump for making jokes about Nancy Pelosi’s husband, and a comic for making jokes about Puerto Rico being a floating pile of garbage.
“I never heard anybody get fired for telling a George Floyd joke, and he had kids,” Hughley said while calling out the hypocrisy of ABC suspending Jimmy Kimmel.
The comedian said that now it’s a sudden outrage and calls for censorship. Hughley explained as he further called out the Fox commentator who said the homeless population deserves the lethal injection, and the FCC chair was silent on the matter.
Hughley explained that the attempt to muzzle comedy is not just about protecting sensibilities but about controlling narratives.
“Like those famous two knobs, George Carlin (comedian) said, ‘One turns it off, and one turns the channel,’” he described as it relates to turning off the content if you don’t like it.
“You can listen to whatever you want. You can hear whatever you want. You can see whatever you want. That is the power all Americans have. You don’t have to hear to Kimmel. You don’t have to hear to Colbert. You don’t have to hear Trump,” he noted while saying that the government shouldn’t control anyone’s right to hear what they want.
The exchange occurs during a time when late-night TV, live comedy, and streaming platforms are transforming into arenas for larger cultural conflicts. Hughley stressed that silencing comedians while giving political figures a pass undermines both artistic freedom and democratic dialogue.
He explained that comedy has always been about presenting the truth in a way that people can laugh at, even if it hurts. He stated that true free speech does not exist if individuals can only express themselves when their views align with the majority.
