TLDR
- Disney announced Jimmy Kimmel Live will return Tuesday night after six-day suspension over controversial comments
- Show was suspended following Kimmel’s remarks about Charlie Kirk shooting that drew backlash
- Over 400 Hollywood celebrities signed letter defending Kimmel’s free speech rights through ACLU
- Nexstar and Sinclair broadcasting companies threatened to drop show from their ABC affiliate stations
- FCC Chair Brendan Carr pressured Disney to take action against the late-night host
Disney announced Monday that Jimmy Kimmel Live will return to ABC Tuesday night. The late-night show was suspended for six days after host Jimmy Kimmel made controversial comments about the fatal shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
The entertainment company said it reached the decision after “thoughtful conversations” with Kimmel. Disney initially suspended the show to avoid “further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country.”
The company acknowledged some of Kimmel’s comments were “ill-timed and thus insensitive.” Kimmel is expected to address the controversy directly during Tuesday night’s broadcast.
Broadcasting Partners Threatened Show Boycott
Major pressure came from local station owners who control Disney’s affiliate network. Nexstar Media Group, which operates around 30 local ABC stations, said it would not air the show. Sinclair, running 38 ABC affiliates, made similar threats.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr escalated the situation by suggesting federal intervention. “This is a very serious issue right now for Disney,” Carr told podcaster Benny Johnson. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way.”
Carr’s comments came just hours before Disney suspended the show. He warned companies could “take action on Kimmel” or face “additional work for the FCC ahead.”
Sinclair announced it will continue preempting the show across its ABC affiliate stations. The broadcaster plans to replace Kimmel’s show with news programming while discussions with Disney continue.
Celebrity Letter Campaign Influences Decision
More than 400 Hollywood celebrities rallied behind Kimmel during the suspension. The American Civil Liberties Union released an open letter signed by major stars including Jennifer Aniston, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, and Ben Stiller.
The letter called Disney’s initial suspension a “dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.” It warned against government threats that pressure artists, journalists, and companies.
The celebrity support likely influenced Disney’s decision to reverse course. The quick turnaround suggests the company faced pressure from multiple directions within the entertainment industry.
Disney stock moved up 0.4% to $112.98 in premarket trading Tuesday. The stock had closed 1% lower in the previous session as investors weighed the controversy’s impact on the company’s brand reputation.
