Stephen Colbert praised for ‘amazing’ response to Jimmy Kimmel suspension

Late-night talk show hosts in the US are standing in solidarity with Jimmy Kimmel following the suspension of his show.

Stephen Colbert is among the comedians who have spoken out in support of the TV star after his show was taken off air 'indefinitely' earlier this week.

And given that he's only got seven months left on screen himself following the cancellation of The Late Show, Colbert didn't hold back when reacting to the news that Kimmel would be joining him on the scrap heap.

He described the decision to axe the 57-year-old's show as a 'blatant assault on freedom of speech' earlier this week, while adding: "We are all Jimmy Kimmel."

Kimmel suggested that the 'MAGA gang' was using Charlie Kirk's murder to 'score political points' in his monologue on Monday (15 September), as well as joking about Donald Trump's strange reaction to it.

Fellow TV titan Jimmy Fallon vowed not to alter his usual commentary of Trump and the political sphere in wake of Kimmel's cancellation, while saying he 'hopes' his pal's show will be reinstated.

Actor Ben Stiller said suspending the late-night show was 'not right' in a social media post, while former commander-in-chief Barack Obama said it had taken cancel culture to a 'new and dangerous level'.

During Thursday's (18 September) episode of The Late Show, Colbert again addressed Kimmel's suspension - but this time, he put a comical spin on it.

And social media users reckon the skit - which saw him parody the song 'Be Our Guest' from Disney's 1991 film Beauty and the Beast - was 'amazing'.

For those who need a reminder, the beloved French candelabra Lumiere sings the song to Princess Belle to encourage her to make herself at home after she agrees to become the Beast's prisoner in exchange for her father's freedom.

Colbert put his own spin on the song and took a series of swipes at Trump and others who have been involved in getting Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air.

Revising the lyrics, the character in Colbert's skit - who is wearing a MAGA cap - sings: "Shut your trap / Shut your trap / We are warning you to cut the crap / Our dear leader’s skin is thinner than a sheet of plastic wrap.

"Mum’s the word / Have you heard? / Kissing a** is what’s preferred!

"Don't insult our great dictator or he'll hit you with this turd," Lumiere croons, while an image of the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, appeared on screen.

It continues: "The new rule at ABC / Don’t make fun of Donny T / And don’t point out that his neck is mostly flap.

“So don’t you make a scene / Or mention Jeff Epstein / Or your show will be scrapped / Shut your trap / Shut up!"

Colbert - whose own show will come to an end in May next year - has been hailed for the gag by social media users.

One person dubbed the parody a 'brilliant response' while another described it as 'the best clap back' to Kimmel's suspension yet.

"This was so good," a third added, while a fourth said Colbert had taken 'a flamethrower to Trump’s censorship circus'.

"While Jimmy Kimmel’s studio gets stripped bare under pressure from Trump’s FCC chair, Colbert claps back, animated and unapologetic," the social media user went on.

"Late-night resistance is alive. For now."

Another chimed in saying: "Colbert has nothing to lose. This is fantastic!"

Kimmel has not yet publicly commented on the suspension of his show, however, his pal Adam Carolla has revealed what he said about the situation during a text exchange in the aftermath.