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The Jimmy Kimmel Controversy and How Beliefs Shape Identity
From echo chambers to culture wars, the rise of social media has turned criticism of an idea into a threat to identity, fueling division and hostility.
Spencer Coursen
September 18, 2025
What Happened with Jimmy Kimmel?
On Monday night, Jimmy Kimmel made remarks about the assassination of Charlie Kirk that were highly controversial. He promoted a narrative without any factual basis. His commentary sparked outrage among viewers, ABC affiliates, and even attracted the attention of the FCC. In response, ABC suspended his show indefinitely, citing the severity and distortion of his comments.
Why this matters
In a climate where a single statement can trigger widespread consequences, the Jimmy Kimmel controversy underscores the delicate balance between belief and identity. Understanding why his comments caused such a backlash helps us see how tightly people hold onto their beliefs as part of who they are.
“The Maga Gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it."
How Did We Get Here?
The gradual shift in how beliefs became so closely tied to personal identity did not happen overnight, but rather through a cultural evolution over time.
Much of this shift is connected to our move into a more digital and interconnected world. Over the last few decades, particularly with the rise of social media, people have increasingly identified their sense of self with their beliefs. Beliefs are no longer just ideas we hold; they have become the basis for belonging to groups and tribes. Once identity and belief are woven together, it becomes far more difficult to separate a critique of the belief from an attack on the individual.
This blending of belief and identity accelerated with the growth of online communities and digital echo chambers. Of course, we have all held beliefs in the past that we later let go of (Santa Claus and the old food pyramid immediately to mind), but the stakes today feel higher. It is no longer just about changing your mind; it is about defending your identity. That is why challenges to beliefs can feel so personal.
Bottom Line
When we allow our beliefs to define our identity, disagreements become attacks, and debates become war. Our democracy depends on the ability to debate fiercely without dehumanizing one another. We must reclaim the space between belief and identity, or risk losing far more than arguments.
Five Protective Strategies You Can Employ Today:
1. Practice Intellectual Humility:
Accept that it’s okay not to have all the answers and be open to learning and revising your views.
2. Engage in Role Reversal
Challenge yourself to argue from the opposite perspective. This helps you see that beliefs are just viewpoints, not fixed parts of who you are.
3. Keep a Belief Journal
Write down your beliefs and revisit them over time to see how they evolve, reminding yourself that growth is natural.
4. Diversify Your Identity Anchors
Build your identity on multiple aspects of your life—relationships, hobbies, and values—so that no single belief defines you.
5. Engage in Open Dialogue
Have regular conversations with people who hold different views to normalize respectful disagreement and reduce the sense that a challenge to a belief is a challenge to your identity.
Disagree with anything? Hit reply—I always read your responses.
Live Smart. Stay Safe.
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