Performing Artists Must Be Protected from Censorship 

October 31, 2025

Ed Malaga  -  AFM International Executive Board Member and President of Local 161-710 (Washington, DC)

The recent efforts to censor the voices of creative artists presents a troubling development for performing artists of all disciplines. AFM International President Tino Gagliardi’s response to ABC taking Jimmy Kimmel off the air was articulated perfectly:

“This is not complicated: Trump’s FCC identified speech it did not like and threatened ABC with extreme reprisals. This is state censorship. It’s now happening in the United States of America, not some far-off country. It’s happening right here and right now. This act by the Trump administration represents a direct attack on free speech and artistic expression. These are fundamental rights that we must protect in a free society. The American Federation of Musicians strongly condemns the decision to take Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air. We stand in solidarity with all those who will be without work because of government overreach.”

It is because the arts have long served as a mirror for society that the current trend of censoring those who express opinions considered controversial must be countered by the collective resistance and action of all artists. In the words of President John F. Kennedy, “If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision, wherever it takes him. We must never forget that art is not a form of propaganda; it is a form of truth.”

I can’t recall a time when we have been in more urgent need of the voice of our artists than at the present. It is a time when public support for all the performing arts has become even more critical. The AFM is working with fellow trade unions to build coalitions and work collaboratively to advocate for artists and influence policy, with support for the National Endowment for the Arts as a prime example.

There have been decisions made by artists who, as a form of political statement, chose to cancel their performance commitments. The end result is that an important platform has been abandoned, and we’ve lost a critical opportunity to engage with audiences directly in this consequential time. In any case, the atmosphere in which artists are currently working will certainly impact the cultural landscape and possibly the foundations of artistic freedom.

Defending the freedom of performing artists is not an option at this point; it is essential and necessary for our society and for the values that we consider most important. When art is only allowed to reflect what is safe and approved, we have lost a mirror that shows us who we really are.

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