After two episodes of silence, Whoopi Goldberg and her fellow co-hosts on ABC’s “The View” broke their silence Monday, Sept. 22, to address the network’s suspension of Jimmy Kimmel—a move that has sparked fierce debate over free speech and government influence in media.

Opening the show, Goldberg made it clear that the panel was ready to confront the controversy head-on. “Did y’all really think we weren’t going to talk about Jimmy Kimmel?” she asked, her trademark candor on full display. “I mean, have you watched the show over the last 29 seasons? No one silences us.”

Goldberg explained that the show’s delay in commenting was intentional, giving Kimmel space to respond first. “When the news broke last week about Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension, we took a breath to see if Jimmy was going to say anything about it first,” she said. “You cannot like a show and it can go off the air. Someone can say something they shouldn’t and get taken off the air. But the government cannot apply pressure to force someone to be silenced.”

Her words set the tone for a passionate discussion among the co-hosts. Ana Navarro voiced her concern about the government’s role in the decision, saying, “I don’t understand how in this country, where the First Amendment was made to the Constitution to guarantee freedom of the press and freedom of speech, how the government itself is using its weight and power to bully and scare people into silence.”

Alyssa Farah Griffin added, “The First Amendment is the first for a reason, because you need to be able to hold those in power accountable.”

Goldberg ended the segment with a message of equality and unity: “We talk about freedom of speech a lot because we are always in somebody’s mess because somebody has decided that we have said something that’s offensive. But we fight for everybody’s right to have freedom of speech because it means my speech is free, it means your speech is free.”

The View’s discussion comes amid mounting questions about the role of government and corporations in shaping what Americans see and hear on television. On Sept. 18, just after ABC announced Kimmel’s suspension, FCC chairman Brendan Carr publicly suggested the commission should investigate whether “The View” qualifies as a bona fide news program, potentially subjecting it to stricter equal opportunity rules.

Carr explained on a radio show, “Over the years, the FCC has developed a body of case law…most of these late night shows, other than ‘SNL,’ are bona fide news programs. Potentially I would assume you can make the argument that ‘The View’ is a bona fide news show, but I’m not so sure about that, and I think it’s worthwhile to have the FCC look into whether ‘The View’ and some of the programs that you have still qualify as bona fide news programs and therefore exempt from the equal opportunity regime that Congress has put in place.”

The hosts’ initial silence only fueled fan speculation that ABC had instructed them not to comment, raising further concerns about censorship and editorial independence.

Outside ABC, many television personalities were quick to condemn Kimmel’s suspension. Stephen Colbert called it “blatant censorship” and accused the network of trying to appease Donald Trump. Jimmy Fallon expressed solidarity, vowing never to stop making jokes about Trump even if it risked his own show. David Letterman described the situation as “managed media” and warned against firing hosts out of fear or political pressure. Howard Stern responded by canceling his Disney+ subscription, saying, “I do not support what they’re doing with Jimmy…when the government says, ‘I’m not pleased with you, so we’re gonna orchestrate a way to silence you,’ it’s the wrong direction for our country.”

The debate over Jimmy Kimmel’s fate has reignited broader concerns about the boundaries of free speech, the influence of government on media, and the growing climate of fear in American broadcasting. For Goldberg and her co-hosts, the controversy represents a crucial moment for defending the First Amendment and the right of all Americans—regardless of political affiliation—to speak their minds.

As Goldberg put it, “We fight for everybody’s right to have freedom of speech because it means my speech is free, it means your speech is free.” With Kimmel still off the air, the conversation continues, and “The View” remains committed to standing up for free expression—no matter the pressure.