Kimmel, Free Speech, and Why Creators Won't be Stopped

Disney fired Jimmy Kimmel. Then they hired him back — but now affiliates won’t air him. The First Amendment is wobbling in public. Hot takes everywhere.

So what does that mean for writers, actors and directors still on the come up?

Nothing.

You still create. You still write. You still act. Censorship pressure in the U.S. isn’t new — it just looks different every decade. Your story still deserves to be told. The only real question is distribution. Who gets your work to the audience? That’s where it gets interesting.

If the front door closes, use the side door

The studio “system” is a corporate conglomerate. They optimize for risk, not voice. Good news: big systems make big cracks — and cracks are where independents thrive.

• Open platforms: YouTube and TikTok let you ship today, iterate tomorrow, and find your people without a greenlight.
• Direct support: Patreon and Substack turn your audience into producers. No waiting for “approval.” Just proof of value.
• Owned channels: Your newsletter, your site, your text list. Publish everywhere, but own somewhere.
• Event windows: Festivals, pop‑up screenings, micro‑tours, and timed VOD drops. Create your own “opening weekend.”
• Collabs: Cross‑post with adjacent creators. Guest on podcasts. Trade audiences. You don’t need one network when you can borrow ten channels.

How to think like your own distributor...

Audience before algorithm: Define who they are, where they hang out, and why your story matters to them right now.

Life finds a way — so does your story

It reminds me of the tag line from Jurassic Park: life finds a way. That’s your story. Life. Life finds a way. Gatekeepers wobble. Affiliates blink. Audiences still show up for the real thing.

Send this to an artist who needs to be encouraged.

Good night, and good luck.