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Latino and Hispanic Hollywood and Broadway stars sign free-speech open letter condemning Jimmy Kimmel’s temporary suspension

Indira Zaldivar
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Latino and Hispanic Hollywood and Broadway stars sign free-speech open letter condemning Jimmy Kimmel’s temporary suspension

When the American Civil Liberties Union released an open letter condemning the government’s role in Jimmy Kimmel’s temporary suspension, hundreds of Hollywood and Broadway figures signed in solidarity. Among them were many prominent Latino and Hispanic performers and creators who used their platform to defend the constitutional right to free expression.

A Letter for the First Amendment

The letter warns that “government threats to our freedom of speech…strike at the heart of what it means to live in a free country.” Signatories emphasized that silencing one voice endangers everyone, urging Americans to “defend and preserve our constitutionally protected rights.”

Latinx and Hispanic Signatories

Several celebrated Latino and Hispanic stars added their names, underscoring how vital free speech is to diverse communities:

  • America Ferrera – The Emmy-winning Ugly Betty and Barbie star of Honduran roots has long advocated for immigrant rights and Latinx representation.
  • Ariana DeBose – An Oscar winner for West Side Story, DeBose is a proud Afro-Latina who often speaks about visibility for marginalized artists.
  • Demián Bichir – The Mexican actor and Academy Award nominee for A Better Life joined the call for protecting artistic voices.
  • Diego Luna – Known for Andor and Rogue One, the Mexican actor-director has consistently supported freedom of expression in the arts.
  • Gabriel Luna – The Texas-born actor of Mexican descent, recognized for The Last of Us and Terminator: Dark Fate, also signed on.
  • Lin-Manuel Miranda – The Hamilton creator and son of Puerto Rican parents has been a leading advocate for both the arts and civil liberties.
  • Luis & Luz Miranda – Lin-Manuel’s parents, who have championed Puerto Rican causes and community activism, added their voices.
  • Melissa Fumero – The Brooklyn Nine-Nine star, of Cuban heritage, is a frequent advocate for Latinx inclusion in television.
  • Melissa Villaseñor – A groundbreaking Latina comedian and former Saturday Night Live cast member joined fellow artists in support.
  • Pedro Pascal – The Chilean-born star of The Last of Us and The Mandalorian lent his global platform to defend free speech.
  • Rafael Casal – The actor, whose family immigrated from Cuba, writer, and director (Blindspotting) added his name to the growing list.
  • Rosario Dawson – The actress and activist of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent reinforced the message of artistic independence.
  • Selena Gomez – One of the world’s biggest pop stars and an outspoken advocate for mental health and immigrant rights, Gomez joined the effort.

A Broader Cultural Stand

These Latino and Hispanic voices stood alongside hundreds of fellow artists—including Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, and Mark Ruffalo—to call this “a dark moment for freedom of speech.” Their participation highlights how diverse communities recognize the threat when any group’s right to speak is challenged.

As the debate over Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension continues, the united stance of these prominent Latino and Hispanic stars signals that protecting free expression transcends politics, fame, and borders.

For more celebrity headlines, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Jimmy Kimmel Live Set to Return After Suspension

Edward Saenz
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Jimmy Kimmel Live Set to Return After Suspension

ABC confirmed Monday that Jimmy Kimmel Live will return Tuesday, ending nearly a weeklong suspension sparked by the host’s remarks on the Sept. 10 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Network Explains Decision

Disney, ABC’s parent company, said it halted production to “avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country.” Executives described Kimmel’s comments as “ill-timed and thus insensitive” but said “thoughtful conversations” with the comedian led to the decision to resume the show.

The Remarks That Sparked Backlash

During a monologue, Kimmel said “many in MAGA land are working very hard to capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk” and accused “the MAGA gang” of trying to portray the alleged killer as “anything other than one of them.” The comments prompted swift criticism and led ABC affiliates owned by Nexstar and Sinclair to preempt the show.

Political and Regulatory Pressure

The controversy drew national attention. Former President Donald Trump, a frequent target of Kimmel’s jokes, called the suspension “great news for America” and urged other late-night hosts be fired. Brendan Carr, a commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission, issued a public warning about Kimmel’s remarks before later denying he threatened to revoke ABC station licenses, saying the issue was “about ratings, not federal action.”

Industry and Public Response

While some affiliates pulled the program, fellow comedians defended Kimmel. More than 430 Hollywood and Broadway figures—including Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, and Lin-Manuel Miranda—signed an American Civil Liberties Union open letter calling the suspension “a dark moment for freedom of speech.” On ABC’s The View, co-host Whoopi Goldberg declared, “No one silences us,” criticizing Disney’s decision.

Kimmel’s Career and Contract

Kimmel has hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live! since 2003 and is a four-time Academy Awards host. His current contract with Disney-owned ABC runs through May 2026. In a summer interview with Variety, he acknowledged concern about government crackdowns on comedians but said, “That can’t change what you’re doing.”

Late-Night Landscape

The suspension comes amid broader changes in late-night TV, including CBS’s cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show earlier this year. Disney said it intends to move forward with Kimmel at the helm, with new episodes beginning Tuesday.

For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Angelina Jolie Voices Concern Over Threats to Free Expression

Indira Zaldivar
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Angelina Jolie Voices Concern Over Threats to Free Expression

Angelina Jolie expressed alarm over growing limits on personal freedoms during a press conference at the San Sebastián Film Festival in Spain on Sept. 21, 2025.

“Anything anywhere that divides or, of course, limits personal expressions and freedoms from anyone, I think, is very dangerous,” the actress said while promoting her new film Couture.

“I Don’t Recognize My Country”

Asked what worries her as both an artist and an American, Jolie replied, “I love my country, but I don’t at this time recognize my country.” She added that her life and friendships are international, and that these “very heavy times” require careful words and global unity.

Context of Media Tensions

Jolie’s comments came days after ABC and Disney indefinitely suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! following jokes about former President Donald Trump and the Sept. 15 fatal shooting of activist Charlie Kirk. The move, preceded by remarks from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and Trump’s criticism of negative media coverage, has fueled debate over free speech in U.S. media.

Longtime Humanitarian Advocate

A veteran human rights activist, Jolie has worked extensively with the United Nations refugee agency and frequently highlights global crises. Earlier this year she marked World Refugee Day by noting record-high displacement worldwide and issued a statement on famine in Gaza.

Plans for an International Life

Jolie has previously said she intends to live abroad once her children are grown, citing a desire for privacy and a sense of global community. “Sometimes this place can be…that humanity that I found across the world is not what I grew up with here,” she told The Hollywood Reporter in January, adding that she expects to spend significant time in Cambodia, where her son Maddox was born.

For more celebrity news, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Super Typhoon Ragasa Slams Northern Philippines

Michael Esparza
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Super Typhoon Ragasa Slams Northern Philippines

Thousands were evacuated Monday as Super Typhoon Ragasa, described as potentially “catastrophic,” made landfall over Panuitan Island in Cagayan province with gusts up to 230 km/h (143 mph). The storm threatens life-threatening storm surges of more than 3 meters (10 feet), widespread flooding, and landslides.

Schools Closed and Communities at Risk

Classes and government offices shut across large areas, including Manila. The remote Batanes and Babuyan islands—home to about 20,000 residents, many in poverty—were hit first. Authorities warn of heavy damage to homes and infrastructure as Ragasa barrels west toward southern China.

Regional Impact Beyond the Philippines

Taiwan, about 740 km (460 miles) north, expects torrential rain despite not taking a direct hit. Forest trails and ferry services have been suspended, and nearly 300 people have evacuated Hualien County.

China and Hong Kong Prepare

China’s Guangdong province urged residents to brace for a “large-scale disaster,” planning evacuations ahead of Ragasa’s expected landfall later this week. In Shenzhen, officials aim to move 400,000 people. Hong Kong authorities warned weather will “deteriorate rapidly,” prompting Cathay Pacific to cancel 500 flights and Hong Kong Airlines to suspend all departures from Tuesday evening.

Storm Strikes Amid Flood Fatigue

The Philippines is already reeling from weeks of intense monsoon flooding. Over the weekend, tens of thousands protested government corruption and a lack of flood-control infrastructure, underscoring frustration as yet another major storm bears down on the region.

For more headlines from around the globe that you must know, tune in to Que Onda Magazine.

It’s a summery start to fall, but a midweek cool front will usher in a fall-feel later this week

ABC13 Houston
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It’s a summery start to fall, but a midweek cool front will usher in a fall-feel later this week


HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Welcome to Fall, y’all!

Fall officially begins at 1:19 p.m. Monday, but it will still feel like summer. Monday looks slightly drier than what Southeast Texas experienced Sunday, but a few showers and storms can’t be ruled out with this summery airmass overhead. Best chance for rain Monday will be south of I-10 and along the coast. Otherwise, look for a partly cloudy and warm day with afternoon highs climbing into the low 90s.

What’s the latest on this incoming “cool” front?

Good news is that it’s looking more and more likely that a cool front will move through Southeast Texas later this week. As for a temperature drop, don’t get your hopes up. This time around, this front will first provide the chance for showers and storms Wednesday evening and night, few of which could be on the stronger side with gusty winds and heavy rainfall. Then as the front slowly pushes offshore, a few showers could linger for Thursday morning. By Thursday afternoon you may start to feel the second impact of this front, which is lower humidity. Friday through Sunday then we get to experience drier, sunnier days with lower humidity and season temperatures… which means morning lows in the upper 60s and afternoon highs in the upper 80s.

When does fall begin?

The autumnal equinox is on Monday, September 22, at 1:19 p.m. marking the end of astronomical summer and the beginning of astronomical fall. Meteorological Fall began on September 1st.

What is happening in the tropics?

Hurricane Gabrielle is moving over the central Atlantic with two more tropical waves to monitor in the Atlantic. For a thorough update and in-depth video on what’s happening in the tropics, head to our tropical update page.

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

For more Houston headlines, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine!

Colleges Scramble to Retain International Students

Edward Saenz
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Colleges Scramble to Retain International Students

American universities are working overtime to keep international students enrolled as visa delays and new restrictions cut into admissions. The State Department’s pause on visa interviews this summer and heightened scrutiny under the Trump administration have left schools racing to help students secure entry to the U.S.

Davidson College’s All-Out Effort

When visa appointments halted in May, Davidson College President Douglas Hicks and his team personally guided three dozen international students through alternative consulates and paperwork. Nearly all arrived by August, preserving the liberal-arts school’s 11% international population.

National Enrollment Slump

Despite individual successes, many campuses report steep declines. Saint Louis University’s international enrollment dropped 45%, largely among graduate students. The University of Cincinnati saw a 25% decline in international graduate students, while Arizona State University—normally the top public destination—reported a 3% dip of about 500 students.

Economic Stakes

International students contributed $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023–24 through tuition and living expenses. Universities rely on these full-tuition-paying students to subsidize scholarships for domestic peers, making sudden declines a serious financial strain.

Visa and Policy Barriers

The State Department defends its intensified screening as a security measure. Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted concerns about Chinese students with potential ties to the Communist Party. Broader travel bans now block applicants from 19 countries, including Iran, Afghanistan, and Haiti, leaving many aspiring scholars in limbo.

Shifting Global Landscape

Administrators warn that uncertainty is pushing top students toward other nations. Cornell’s vice provost for international affairs, Wendy Wolford, called the U.S. “a highly unpredictable landscape,” noting competitors abroad are seizing the moment to recruit admitted students.

Changing Demand

Some schools also cite waning interest in certain tech-related master’s programs, particularly those that rapidly expanded in recent years. The University at Buffalo lost over 1,000 graduate-level international students, mostly in STEM fields, despite a record undergraduate class.

Holding on to Optimism

Davidson continues to draw thousands of international applications with a 3% admission rate. Hicks says he reassures families that their students will find not just an education but a welcoming home, even as U.S. policies make the path to campus more uncertain.

For more on international students’ retention at American colleges during the Trump era, tune in to Que Onda Magazine.

Trump Expected to Approve U.S.-Based TikTok Deal

Indira Zaldivar
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Trump Expected to Approve U.S.-Based TikTok Deal

President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order this week approving a new agreement that places TikTok’s U.S. operations under majority American ownership. A senior White House official said the move will keep all U.S. user data stored in a secure domestic cloud and under American oversight.

Majority-American Ownership

The plan creates a joint-venture company that will run TikTok in the United States. ByteDance, TikTok’s Beijing-based parent, will hold less than 20% of the stock. A seven-member board—mostly U.S. citizens—will manage the company, with one ByteDance-appointed member barred from serving as board chair or on the data security committee.

Oracle as Trusted Security Provider

Oracle will become TikTok’s official security partner, monitoring data operations and safeguarding information. The company will handle source code review, algorithm retraining, and application development while storing Americans’ data in a dedicated U.S. cloud environment protected by perimeter controls and machine learning systems.

Algorithm Secured and Retrained

TikTok’s U.S. algorithm will be duplicated, leased to the joint-venture, and fully separated from ByteDance control. Oracle will retrain and monitor the system to prevent foreign influence and ensure content integrity.

Continuous Global Access

Despite the ownership changes, the app will remain globally interoperable, allowing American users to view international content while keeping their data secure in the United States. The user experience will remain uninterrupted.

Economic and Legal Impact

White House officials project the agreement could generate $178 billion in economic activity over four years and sustain thousands of American jobs. The executive order will delay enforcement of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act for up to 120 days, following months of negotiations and previous extensions.

Background of the Ban

Congress passed a law, signed by President Biden, banning apps controlled by foreign adversaries over national security concerns. After surviving a Supreme Court challenge, the law took effect in January 2025. Trump granted multiple enforcement delays as talks with ByteDance continued, culminating in this pending deal.

For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Bad Bunny Honors Puerto Rico and Hurricane Maria Survivors

Indira Zaldivar
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0
Bad Bunny Honors Puerto Rico and Hurricane Maria Survivors

Bad Bunny closed his 30-concert Puerto Rico residency Saturday with a powerful tribute on the eighth anniversary of Hurricane Maria. The sold-out show celebrated resilience and the island’s enduring spirit, streaming globally for the first time via Amazon Music, Prime Video and Twitch.

A Night of Pride and Remembrance

The superstar raised a glass “for you,” dedicating the night to Puerto Ricans who survived the 2017 storm that killed nearly 3,000 and left communities without power for months. Fans waved flags bearing the death toll and wore shirts honoring those lost, while chronic power outages and slow reconstruction remain pressing issues.

Star-Studded Finale

Puerto Rican icons Ñengo Flow, Jowell y Randy, Dei V, Arcángel and De la Ghetto joined Bad Bunny on stage. The biggest surprise came when Marc Anthony appeared for a rare duet of the classic “Preciosa,” bringing the crowd to a roar of “Yo te quiero, Puerto Rico!”

Fans Flock to Celebrate

Thousands gathered hours early, some wearing Puerto Rico’s national flower and traditional straw hats. Many were moved by personal milestones: birthdays, cancer remissions and memories of Maria. Demand for tickets was so intense that some waited online for hours without success.

Economic and Cultural Impact

The residency drew about half a million attendees and generated an estimated $733 million for the island, with visitors traveling from the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Spain. Around 70% of concertgoers were women, with an average age of 33.

Farewell Before Global Tour

Bad Bunny thanked fans for their love, promising to carry the island’s spirit on his upcoming world tour, which will skip the mainland U.S. in protest of federal immigration policies. As the show ended, the crowd erupted in the traditional chant: “Yo soy boricua!”—“Pa’ que tú lo sepas!”—a proud declaration of Puerto Rican identity.

For the latest news on our Latino and Hispanic stars, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

France, UK, Canada Recognize Palestinian Statehood

Indira Zaldivar
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0
France, UK, Canada Recognize Palestinian Statehood

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that the United Kingdom now formally recognizes a Palestinian state, marking a major shift in foreign policy. He said the move aims to “keep alive the possibility of peace and a two-state solution” amid escalating violence in Gaza.

International Support

Australia, Canada, and Portugal joined the UK in recognising Palestinian statehood, with France expected to follow. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the decision, calling it a step toward a future of “security, peace and good neighbourliness.”

Israeli and U.S. Backlash

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the decision, warning it “rewards terrorism.” The U.S. echoed concerns, saying recognition benefits Hamas, which carried out the deadly 2023 attacks in southern Israel. Families of hostages still held in Gaza called the move a “betrayal.”

Starmer’s Defense

Starmer stressed the recognition is “not a reward for Hamas,” insisting the group “can have no future, no role in government, no role in security.” UK officials said the recognition is based on 1967 borders with land swaps to be settled in future negotiations.

War and Humanitarian Crisis

The announcement comes amid a worsening conflict. Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed more than 65,000 people, according to Gaza’s health ministry, while famine and mass displacement grip the territory. UN investigators recently accused Israel of genocide, a charge Israel rejects.

Divided Political Reactions

At home, Conservatives labeled the decision “disastrous,” while Liberal Democrats called it “long overdue.” Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy admitted the move will not end hostilities immediately but said “now is the time to stand up for a two-state solution.”

Broader Context

Roughly 75% of UN member states already recognise Palestine, though it lacks defined borders or a standing army. Analysts say the UK’s action is largely symbolic but signals growing international pressure for a negotiated peace and a lasting two-state solution.

For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Cyberattack Hits Major European Airports

Edward Saenz
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0
Cyberattack Hits Major European Airports

A cyberattack targeting airline check-in and boarding systems disrupted air traffic across several major European airports on Saturday, exposing weaknesses in aviation security.

Systems Forced to Manual Check-In

The attack began late Friday, striking the third-party provider Collins Aerospace, which supplies self check-in and baggage-drop software. Airports in Brussels, Berlin, and London Heathrow were among those affected, forcing agents to process passengers manually.

Limited but Widespread Impact

Brussels Airport initially reported a “large impact,” canceling nine flights and redirecting four others. Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport and Heathrow said delays were minimal, but passengers faced long waits. One traveler at Heathrow described staff handwriting baggage tags and long lines at under-staffed counters.

Expert Concerns Over Vulnerabilities

Cybersecurity experts warned that aviation’s dependence on shared digital systems makes it an attractive target. “These attacks often strike through the supply chain, exploiting third-party platforms,” said Charlotte Wilson of Check Point.

Investigation Underway

Officials have not identified the perpetrators. Some analysts suspect hackers or state actors, while others believe it may be digital vandalism rather than an extortion attempt. Collins Aerospace said it is working to restore full functionality and emphasized that manual check-in remains a backup option.

For more on this story, tune in to Que Onda Magazine.

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