Milwaukee comedians share free speech concerns following Jimmy Kimmel's suspension
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- With late night host Jimmy Kimmel's political comments leading to a suspension, local comedians say they are uneasy about what this could mean for them.
"It's really chilling, it's really really frightening," said local comedian Matthew Filipowicz.
"It's a little scary because as a comedian you don’t want someone else stopping you from saying what you want to say,” said Mike Kauth, a comedian and ComedySportz Milwaukee Head Coach.
Kauth has been with ComedySportz Milwaukee the group for decades. He says the recent backlash against Kimmel is at the forefront of many comedians' minds, because at the heart of comedy is freedom of speech.
“It’s the fear of consequence from someone who disagrees with you, because it’s that thing of like you know I might not agree with what somebody jokes about, but I’ll fight for their right to say that that thing," said Kauth. "That freedom of speech element is so important in what we do.”
Supporters of the Kimmel's suspension argue Kimmel's comments crossed a line, saying networks have a responsibility to maintain standards on their air.
Critics say comedians still have the right to joke, but networks also have the right to step in when those jokes violate their standards.
Milwaukee Comedian, Matthew Filipowicz stand-up centers around politics, something he says is vital for democracy.
"We are not going to stop, because we are right in this," said Filipowicz. "We are right in the fact that free speech is important, being able to actually make fun of the President is really really important."
Kathleen Bartzen Culver, the Director of the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication, who is also an expert in free expression and the First Amendment, says the bigger concern comes from the Federal Government and FCC's reaction.
"This was direct pressure from the federal government on a private company to censor the speech of an individual and that’s just a problem," said Culver. "We do not need government interfering with our content."