Ex-Disney CEO Michael Eisner Joins Strengthen for Jimmy Kimmel

On September 17, ABC offered that it can well well per chance be pulling novel episodes of Jimmy Kimmel Dwell! “indefinitely” after remarks about Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin sparked correct-hover rage and feedback from FCC chair Brendan Carr. Kimmel is getting canceled for the setup to a shaggy dog myth, no longer even the punch line. In the monologue from September 15, Kimmel acknowledged, “We hit some novel lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately attempting to signify this shrimp one who murdered Charlie Kirk as something else rather than one amongst them and doing the entirety they would possibly be able to to rating political aspects from it.”

Carr educated YouTuber Benny Johnson that he used to be focused on pulling ABC’s affiliate licenses because Kimmel perceived to be taking part in “into the myth” that suspected shooter Tyler Robinson used to be “by some potential a MAGA or Republican-motivated particular person,” including, “What folk don’t realize is that the broadcasters … delight in a license granted by us on the FCC, and that comes with it an obligation to operate in the general public interest. Once we watch stuff admire this, test, we can invent this the easy approach or the arduous approach.” ABC and media company Nexstar it sounds as if decided to take the easy approach: Nexstar acknowledged it would preempt Jimmy Kimmel Dwell! on its affiliate stations, and rapidly thereafter, ABC acknowledged it would pull novel episodes of the expose.

President Trump did a victory lap on Truth Social. “Monumental Recordsdata for The USA: The rankings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Disguise is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for lastly having the braveness to invent what wanted to be completed. Kimmel has ZERO expertise, and worse rankings than even Colbert, if that’s imaginable,” he wrote. “That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two complete losers, on Unsuitable Recordsdata NBC. Their rankings are also tainted. Attain it NBC!!!”

On the professional-Kimmel side, Hollywood unions WGA and SAG-AFTRA (both of which Kimmel is a member of) issued statements criticizing the decision to drag his expose, as did the union that represents his expose’s band. California senator Adam Schiff and California governor Gavin Newsom were among the many politicians who decried Carr’s remarks and ABC’s decision to take Kimmel off the air, whereas more than one actors, author, and comedians — including Conan O’Brien, David Letterman, Pedro Pascal, Damon Lindelof, and Tim Heidecker — delight in also system to Kimmel’s defense. Even extinct CEO of Disney, Michael Eisner, attach forward an announcement calling out his outdated skool company’s actions.

Emmy-winning Andor author Dan Gilroy penned an op-ed for Closing date in strengthen of Kimmel whereas also saving some empathy for his Disney bosses. “Many folk noticed parallels between Andor and the particular world. I watch them as effectively, in particular in the occasions of the final week,” he wrote. Like Vulture’s Josef Adalian, Gilroy believes Disney’s suspension of Kimmel used to be a technique to aquire time and in the kill abet the expose on the air. “Disney now stands at a crossroads: discontinuance Kimmel’s contract and change into pavement for the road to a audacious novel Trumpian world; or stand for the First Modification and take the onslaught,” he wrote. “There’s no longer important at stake, correct free speech, the oxygen that sustains life on this town.”

Notoriously apolitical Tonight Disguise host Jay Leno has spoken out on behalf of Jimmy Kimmel. The Hollywood Reporter received his remarks at Chris Wallace’s Hollywood Stroll of Standing ceremony. “I’m on Jimmy Kimmel’s side on that one,” he acknowledged. “These sorts of issues happen on a standard foundation. You don’t get canceled (for) asserting in model issues. In overall it’s the actual fact that finishes up getting canceled, so we’ll watch what occurs.” He added “It’s a comedian speaking; in the event you don’t admire it, don’t peep it.”

Right here’s counter to what Leno has been asserting recently, particularly, that lat night has gotten too political. “Smartly, why shoot for correct half of an viewers on a standard foundation? You know, why no longer are trying to get all the?” he acknowledged in July. “I mean, I admire to bring folk into the mountainous characterize. I don’t realize why that you would possibly alienate one inform physique of workers, , or correct don’t invent it the least bit. I’m no longer asserting you’ve gotten to throw your strengthen or no matter, nevertheless correct invent what’s humorous.”

The extinct CEO of the Walt Disney Company got right here for Bob Iger in a tweet September 19. “Where has all the leadership long past?  If no longer for university presidents, law firm managing partners, and company chief executives standing up against bullies, who then will step up for the principle modification?” he wrote. Eisner — who received ABC for Disney at some stage in his tenure — called FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s threats against the network “aggressive but hollow,” and the most in model in a series of intimidation tactics by this administration. “Possibly the Constitution must amassed delight in acknowledged, ‘Congress shall create no law abridging the liberty of speech, or of the press, excluding in one’s political or monetary self-interest,’” he wrote. “By-the-approach, for the file, this ex-CEO finds Jimmy Kimmel very talented and humorous.”

Via his Crew Coco socials, O’Brien attach out an announcement in strengthen of Kimmel, asserting that the FCC and Trump’s actions “must amassed disturb all people on the Heavenly, Left, and Heart. It’s foul and anybody with a judgment of correct and incorrect knows it’s foul.”

Kimmel’s leisurely-night buddies reacted to the news of his suspension on their respective reveals, every finding methods to crack jokes about free speech and Donald Trump’s tolerance for criticism. More than one amongst them did so through song: “Oh, Donald / We pledge to thee our notice from the freshest nation on this planet,” Stewart sang, whereas Colbert channeled Lumière in a parody of “Be Our Visitor” featuring lyrics admire “Don’t insult our extensive dictator or he’ll hit you with this turd.” Explore every of their segments in corpulent right here.

Maslany, the lead of Disney+’s She-Hulk, shared a call on her Instagram Story for folk to waste their Disney+ subscriptions.

Tatiana Maslany has urged her followers to waste their Disney subscriptions after the studio suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s expose. pic.twitter.com/URfe8RNJVK

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 18, 2025

The Clear extensive title equipped photograph proof that she has carve ties by posting a screenshot confirming that she has canceled her Disney+ subscription and tagging the company in the caption.

The Fonz shared a selfie with Kimmel and praised his work and personality, tweeting that the leisurely-night host’s insights are “crucial to abet exhibiting us who we are.”

@jimmykimmel his humor, his insights are crucial to abet exhibiting us who we are . AND he’s a most good fellow

— Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) September 18, 2025

Aged leisurely-night host Letterman defined that he feared what precedent this suspension would possibly possibly well per chance hassle for the long term. “I in actuality feel dreadful about this because we watch where that is all going, ravishing?” he shared. “It’s managed media. And it’s no correct. It’s silly. It’s ridiculous. And you would possibly possibly be in a residence to’t hurry round firing somebody since you’re unnerved or attempting to suck as much as an authoritarian prison administration in the Oval Place of labor. That’s correct no longer how this works.”

Pascal shared a photograph with him and Kimmel, writing in the caption, “Standing with you @jimmykimmellive Defend #FreeSpeech Defend #DEMOCRACY” He also added statements from the WGA, SAG-AFTRA, a submit from author Marina Rust that claims “None of that is favorite,” some statistics about political violence, and a message from the Human Rights Marketing campaign citing “Right here’s what fascism looks to be like admire” on Instagram Experiences.

The creator of Lost promised to cease working with Disney till Kimmel’s expose comes support. “I used to be alarmed, saddened and infuriated by the day previous to this’s suspension and test ahead to it being lifted rapidly. If it isn’t, I can’t in correct judgment of correct and incorrect work for the company that imposed it,” Lindelof wrote on Instagram on September 18.

On the crimson carpet, the comedian expressed his worries about censorship. “It’s occurring very hasty and we are seeing the outcomes of electing a fascist and living, what it feels admire, below a fascist regime… It’s completely convey subsidized censorship,” he shared with THR.

The extinct president criticized the new administration in a novel submit on X: “After years of complaining about waste custom, the new administration has taken it to a novel and dreadful diploma by automatically threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or hearth newshounds and commentators it doesn’t admire.”

The writers union criticized both the authorities and the network in its commentary. “The inform to talk our minds and to disagree with every other — to disturb, even — is on the very coronary heart of what it system to be a free folk. It’s a ways never to be denied. Not by violence, no longer by the abuse of governmental vitality, nor by acts of company cowardice,” the commentary from the WGA reads. “Shame on those in authorities who forget this founding truth. As for our employers, our words delight in made you rich. Silencing us impoverishes all the arena. The WGA stands with Jimmy Kimmel and his writers.”

The actors union condemned the suspension of Kimmel’s expose. “Our society depends on freedom of expression,” SAG-AFTRA acknowledged in an announcement. “Suppression of free speech and retaliation for speaking out on primary problems with public subject speed counter to the fundamental rights we all rely on. Democracy flourishes when various aspects of peep are expressed. The choice to slump airing Jimmy Kimmel Dwell! is the form of suppression and retaliation that endangers all people’s freedoms. SAG-AFTRA stands with all media artists and defends their correct to inform their various aspects of peep, and all people’s correct to hear them.”

“Right here’s no longer complicated,” the AFM, which represents Kimmel’s band, wrote in an announcement. “Trump’s FCC acknowledged speech it did no longer admire and threatened ABC with vulgar reprisals. Right here’s convey censorship.”

Stiller used to be concise, reposting a epic from The Wall Avenue Journal’s Joe Flint and captioning it, “This isn’t correct.”

“Right here’s authorities censorship,” Maron acknowledged in an Instagram video captioned with a call for folk to prepare and peacefully push again. “In the event that they would possibly be able to approach for Kimmel, they would possibly be able to approach for anybody,” he acknowledged.

Birbiglia posted a call to action addressed to “all comedians,” arguing that if they don’t talk out referring to the “madness” of the decision to drag Kimmel’s expose, they shouldn’t bother “spouting off about free speech anymore.”

Sykes, who used to be scheduled to guest on Jimmy Kimmel Dwell! the night it used to be pulled, acknowledged in an Instagram video explaining that her friend’s expose had been pulled “on yarn of complaints from the Trump administration.” Sykes mirrored that the president managed to “pause freedom of speech inside of his first One year” and ended her video by asserting, “For those of you who pray, now’s the time to invent it. Adore you, Jimmy.”

O’Donnell declared that “the US is never any more,” sharing a photograph of Kimmel on Instagram alongside a caption that criticized a “fascist administration and unfriendly company executives” for “bowing” to Trump.

The Hacks extensive title acknowledged she used to be “horrified” on the news that Kimmel’s expose will doubtless be pulled, arguing in an Instagram submit that his feedback constitute “FREE speech, no longer hate speech.”

Hayes focused totally on Carr’s remarks, laying blame for Kimmel’s enforced hiatus at “convey actors.” He tweeted, “Right here’s the most easy assault on free speech from convey actors I’ve ever seen in my life and it’s no longer even shut.”

Newsom looked as if it would hyperlink Kimmel going off the air to The Slack Disguise With Stephen Colbert’s cancellation, as well to with the firing of MSNBC commentator Matthew Dowd and Trump buddies taking abet a watch on of TikTok. “Buying and controlling media platforms. Firing commentators. Canceling reveals. These aren’t coincidences,” he wrote. “It’s coordinated. And it’s dreadful. The @GOP would no longer judge in free speech. They’re censoring you in honest time.”

The California senator also as compared what’s occurring to Kimmel with what’s already came about to Colbert. He talked about Trump’s lawsuits against the Original York Times, The Wall Avenue Journal, and 60 Minutes. “This administration is in price for the most evident attacks on the free press in American history,” Schiff wrote. “What’s going to be left of the First Modification when he’s completed?”

Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker called Kimmel’s cancellation “an assault off free speech” on Bluesky. He urged elected officers to talk up in defense of the First Modification: “A free and democratic society cannot silence comedians since the President doesn’t admire what they are saying. Right here’s an assault on free speech and can’t be allowed to stand.”

Oates got right here to Kimmel’s defense despite no longer being a leisurely-night enjoyer. “As one who avoids shut to all leisurely-night comics & has by no approach seen Jimmy Kimmell (sic) or his competitors amassed it appears to be like unhappy that anybody is so fired for something else he says nonetheless awkward or unfriendly,” she wrote. “Mighty of humor is edgy, surreal, exaggerated, & can’t be truth-checked. if a shaggy dog myth is in uncomfortable taste or falls flat the viewers’s silence is punishment sufficient for the humorous.”

Talking from expertise, Griffin acknowledged it used to be crucial Kimmel delight in strengthen on this 2nd. “Please, take it from me, it’s miles extremely crucial to delight in Jimmy Kimmel‘s support correct now,” she wrote on Bluesky. “Be vocal. Be an ideological particular person. Money is all their crowd cares about.”

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