“What Do We See?” Why Our Industry’s Fight For Free Speech Matters
I teach my On-Camera Intensive as a language class—learning to see what's actually happening in "the box" versus guessing on what we think we're seeing. Recently, our entire industry was grappling with what we were witnessing in real time.
On Wednesday, September 17th, 2025, Jimmy Kimmel, a comedian and the late-night TV host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on ABC, was suspended indefinitely for a joke he made about the current administration and the man in custody for the murder of Charlie Kirk. This was due to pressure from our current administration that trickled down to a threat by the head of the FCC. Kirk was an American right wing political activist. ABC is owned by Disney.
We are living in a world right now where the truth is being silenced by our administration. Where a narrative is being spun rather than facts. The entertainment industry is being silenced and our right of free speech, guaranteed by the Constitution, is being taken away. When I went into acting professionally, over 30 years ago, I knew I would face a number of challenges. I never imagined this would be one of them.
As a proud member of SAG-AFTRA, I've watched our union take a stand on the Jimmy Kimmel suspension. This isn't just about one comedian or one network decision. It's about the fundamental principles that allow artists, executives, and leaders to communicate authentically. Thousands of people canceled their Disney+ and Hulu streaming services and Disney lost almost 4 billion dollars.
The stand worked. The boycott worked. And Jimmy Kimmel is back on the air—more popular than ever.
Applying "What Do We See?" to Current Events
In my classes, I turn down the sound on self-tapes and ask students to narrate only what they observe—facts everyone can agree upon, not interpretations or assumptions. This same discipline applies to how we process information in our polarized media landscape.
What we're seeing:
Government agencies pressuring networks over content
Corporate decisions driven by political and economic pressure
Artists and executives navigating an increasingly complex landscape of acceptable speech
The Professional Stakes
Whether you're an actor preparing for an audition or an executive leading a team, authentic communication requires the freedom to speak truthfully. When external pressures—political, corporate, or social—dictate what can and cannot be said, we lose the very authenticity that makes performance and leadership effective.
The entertainment industry has always been a testing ground for free expression. From the blacklists of the 1950s to today's challenges, we've learned that creative freedom and business success are interconnected, not opposing forces.
Lessons for Leaders and Performers
As I tell my executive clients: authentic leadership requires the courage to speak difficult truths. The same principle applies to actors—your most powerful moments come when you're willing to be vulnerable and real, not when you're performing what you think people want to see.
Moving Forward
I’m not writing this month’s insight to debate my “side” or opinion. Rather, I wanted to continue my pursuit of facts. Of looking at the world and our nation the same way I look at self-tapes:
“What do we see?”
I believe in the founders vision for this country. A country of free speech, and the separation of church and state. Where everyone, regardless of gender, race or who they choose to love, has the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But we are a country in crisis. A country on the brink in ways I’ve never experienced in my lifetime. People I love are scared of what’s to come.
So what can we do?
Well, I will continue to teach and live in a world where facts matter. Where the words you say matter. And I will not be silent about what I see. Because now is the time to be loud. Because Democracy dies in silence. It’s not a time for silence. It’s a time for action.
Bringing this back to art and my industry, I want to leave you with the words of the Emmy Award-winning episode of ANDOR, written by Dan Gilroy entitled, “Welcome to the Rebellion”:
"I stand this morning with a difficult message. I believe we are in crisis. The distance between what is said and what is known to be true has become an abyss. Of all the things at risk, the loss of an objective reality is perhaps the most dangerous. The death of truth is the ultimate victory of evil. When truth leaves us, when we let it slip away, when it is ripped from our hands, we become vulnerable to the appetite of whatever monster screams the loudest." -Mon Mothma
As performers, coaches, and leaders, our job is to model clear-eyed observation and honest communication.
Facts matter. Words matter. Truth matters. And our industry's commitment to defending these principles matters for all of us who depend on authentic communication to do our jobs effectively.
