Jimmy Kimmel’s return to the air has been met with strong opposition
Disney has confirmed that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will officially return to ABC on Tuesday, after nearly a week of suspension due to the host’s controversial statements.
On September 17, ABC abruptly halted production of the show just days after Jimmy Kimmel linked the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk to President Donald Trump’s MAGA movement.
Disney explained the decision at the time to avoid “adding fuel to the fire in a tense social context”.
In a statement on September 22, Disney said it had had discussions with Jimmy Kimmel before coming to a final plan.
CEO Bob Iger and entertainment co-president Dana Walden were directly involved in discussions and finalized plans to bring the show back, and Jimmy Kimmel is expected to speak about the incident during the broadcast recorded on Tuesday night.
Parties threaten to cut ABC if it continues to work with Jimmy Kimmel
However, the storm is not over yet. Major television corporations such as Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group, which own hundreds of local stations affiliated with ABC, have announced that they will not air Jimmy Kimmel.
Sinclair even affirmed that it will replace it with another news program until there is a clear commitment to professionalism and responsibility from Disney.
Currently, Disney’s decision is still facing opposition from many parties, especially right-wing television stations and entertainment companies – Photo: Reuters
The incident quickly went beyond the entertainment sphere and became a political issue. The Chairman of the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Brendan Carr, warned that ABC’s broadcasting license could be reconsidered if Jimmy Kimmel is allowed to return.
President Donald Trump has also repeatedly attacked ABC and NBC, implying that the government could strip the broadcasting rights of stations that oppose him.
This development recalls CBS’s cancellation of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in July, raising concerns about freedom of speech in the context of divisive US politics.
Jimmy Kimmel has a very good relationship with many top entertainment stars, which is why many people voiced their support for him when Disney decided to suspend the program
Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner criticized the FCC for “threatening” ABC, while the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and more than 400 artists signed a joint letter protesting this, calling it “a dark moment for American free speech”.
Jimmy Kimmel’s dismissal has also caused a backlash in the entertainment and political world of the US.
Many famous stars such as Mark Ruffalo, Pedro Pascal, Olivia Rodrigo and Tatiana Maslany have simultaneously spoken out to defend Jimmy Kimmel, calling the suspension of the broadcast “blatant censorship”.
Mark Ruffalo even warned that Disney’s stock would plummet if the program was permanently canceled. Many other entertainment figures such as Tatiana Maslany, Damon Lindelof, Dan Gilroy also announced boycotts or ceased cooperation with Disney if this situation continues.
Besides, veteran comedians such as Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien and David Letterman also publicly criticized ABC.
Letterman called this “a ridiculous decision”, while Conan O’Brien said the incident was an alarm signal for freedom of speech in the current US political context.