Over the weekend, at a posh film festival in the Basque region of Spain, superstar Angelina Jolie was walking into a press conference when she told the Hollywood Reporter that she is afraid of the turn our nation is taking in regards to free speech. She even alluded to mincing her words at the upcoming presser out of fear of saying the wrong thing or pushing the wrong buttons.

Now, taken on their face, I can understand and agree with Jolie’s concerns from what she said after being asked by journalists what she fears about being an artist in America. 

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“It is a very difficult question,” Jolie replied. “I love my country, but at this time, I don’t recognise my country. I’ve always lived internationally, my family is international, my friends, my life. My worldview is equal, united, and international. Anything anywhere that divides or limits personal expressions and freedoms from anyone, I think, is very dangerous.”

She continued, “These are such serious times that we have to be careful not to say things casually. These are very, very heavy times we are living in together.”

Given the circumstances of the murder of Charlie Kirk in broad daylight, on live stream, in front of 3,000 students, men, women, and children, my initial assumption was that the A-list actress was referring to the threat of violence against those in our nation who choose to exercise their First Amendment rights in public. 

But alas, the Hollywood starlet was referring not to the assassination of a 31-year-old father and husband, but to Jimmy Kimmel’s removal from late-night television.

Kimmel was initially removed from the airwaves after two major ABC affiliate companies decided to pull his show after he claimed the alleged shooter who sniped Kirk was not a radical leftist but a MAGA follower, and the Right was lying about it.

Since then, Disney released a statement that Kimmel will return to his show after weeklong conversations and a potential apology for his comments.

This conservative doesn’t want the White House, FCC, or anyone regulating what can and cannot be said on national television, even if it’s an unfunny, bold-faced lie. But this conservative also sees the stark difference between a friend and former colleague being murdered in cold blood versus an unfunny comedian temporarily being booted because the general American audience was outraged at his crass comments.

CHARLIE KIRK’S PRODUCER DISMISSES KIMMEL’S EXPLANATION: ‘NOT GOOD ENOUGH’

Jolie is clearly unaware that not just in America, but beyond our borders, this attack on free speech is a serious threat to democracy, an actual threat to silence the dissent and disagreement that are foundational to our nation. It was a line in the sand for those who view the United States as a beacon of truth, hope, and liberty, and a shock to allies and enemies alike that leftists like herself are belittling it and conflating two very separate issues.

An issue like this is something we should all be able to agree on. It’s too bad the modern day left cares so much about their side that they cannot cross the aisle when our side has lost a warrior who was willing to fight for everyone’s rights to speech, even those who disagreed with him.