ABC and Disney have pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air indefinitely, following a controversy over remarks Kimmel made regarding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The move, confirmed by multiple outlets including Deadline, came directly from Disney Entertainment co-chair Dana Walden and Disney CEO Bob Iger.
Dana Walden via Variety YouTube
But could Jimmy Kimmel Live! actually return to the air on Disney-owned ABC? Has Jimmy Kimmel been fired or even cancelled?
Kimmel has not been fired as of yet, but he is refusing to apologize for the comments that sparked this backlash. That refusal, paired with heavy political and affiliate pressure, appears to have left Disney executives little choice but to act.
The Controversial Remarks
The flashpoint came during Kimmel’s September 15th monologue, when he addressed the shocking killing of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. Kimmel mocked what he described as partisan narratives surrounding the tragedy, targeting conservatives in particular. He also claimed that Trump supporters are desperate to believe that the alleged killer was “anything but one of them.”
🚨 MAJOR BREAKING: Now, Disney ABC is CANCELING Jimmy Kimmel “INDEFINITELY” due to him lying that the Charlie Kirk assassin was MAGA, per WSJ.
This came right after the ABC affiliates canceled Kimmel via Nexstar.
FAFO, LOSER! pic.twitter.com/gGjwtzvdMX
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 17, 2025
This is blatant misinformation at best and potential disinformation at worst. Kirk’s alleged shooter scrawled supposed “anti-fascist” messaging on his ammo and lived with a romantic partner who is a biological male reportedly “transitioning” to female. While the alleged assassin is believed to have conservative parents, even Jimmy Kimmel knows that you’re not defined by who raised you, and many young men and women in their early 20s specifically rebel against their parents’ beliefs.
The reaction was swift. FCC Chair Brendan Carr issued a warning that ABC could face regulatory scrutiny if action wasn’t taken. Major affiliate groups such as Nexstar and Sinclair pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! from their lineups, and Disney-owned ABC followed suit thereafter. What began as a supposed comedy bit snowballed into a nationwide controversy with significant business and political implications.
Disney Steps In
According to Deadline, the decision to remove the show was not made at the board level but instead by Disney’s top television and corporate leadership. Dana Walden, who oversees Disney Entertainment, and Bob Iger personally signed off on pulling Kimmel.
HULU ON DISNEY+ CELEBRATION – Some of the biggest stars across The Walt Disney Company celebrate the official launch of Hulu on Disney+ at an exclusive cocktail reception hosted by Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, along with special guest Bob Iger, on Friday evening in Los Angeles. (Disney/Greg Williams)
DANA WALDEN (CO-CHAIRMAN, DISNEY ENTERTAINMENT, THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY), ROBERT A. IGER (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY), ALAN BERGMAN (CO-CHAIRMAN, DISNEY ENTERTAINMENT, THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY)
Kimmel’s refusal to walk back his monologue was central to the decision. Insiders told Deadline that the comedian “made it clear he would not apologize,” putting the network in a difficult position as affiliates and regulators weighed in. At the same time, Kimmel has privately argued that his remarks were taken out of context, insisting that critics cherry-picked soundbites from a larger segment.
The network is classifying the move as a “preemption” rather than an outright cancellation. In other words, Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been pulled from the air indefinitely, with reruns or alternate programming filling the gap until executives decide the show’s future.
Further complicating the narrative, CNBC reporter Alex Sherman posted on X to clarify that termination is not on the table at this stage.
In case it’s not clear, I’m told by sources familiar with the matter that Kimmel hasn’t been fired and Disney plans to speak with him about a response when he returns to air.https://t.co/kRPZnT8FfI
— Alex Sherman (@sherman4949) September 18, 2025
“In case it’s not clear, I’m told by sources familiar with the matter that Kimmel hasn’t been fired and Disney plans to speak with him about a response when he returns to air,” Sherman wrote. That means, despite the public fallout, Disney is at least leaving the door open for a potential comeback—if affiliates and advertisers can be reassured.
Not Fired—Yet
Contrary to rumors circulating on social media, Jimmy Kimmel has not been terminated and Jimmy Kimmel Live! has not been cancelled.
He remains under contract, and insiders say there is still a possibility he could return to the airwaves. Whether that happens may depend on factors outside of Kimmel’s control—chiefly, how long the backlash lasts and whether ABC affiliates are willing to carry the show.
Jimmy Kimmel speaks to Arnold Schwarzenegger on Jimmy Kimmel Live – YouTube, Jimmy Kimmel Live
Without affiliates, ABC loses distribution. Without distribution, Disney loses advertising dollars. That commercial reality, combined with potential regulatory headaches, explains why executives acted so quickly.
Political and Cultural Fallout
The controversy is reverberating far beyond Hollywood. Free speech advocates argue that Disney and ABC caved to political pressure, setting a dangerous precedent while also ignoring the blatant misinformation angle surrounding Kimmel’s comments.
“If comedians are going to be silenced every time regulators threaten consequences, the entire industry is at risk,” one media analyst warned in Reuters.
Jimmy Kimmel tricks women into signing a petition to take away their right to vote on an episode of “The Man Show” – Youtube, J Evan
Others counter that Kimmel crossed a line at a time when emotions are raw, and that late-night hosts have to be held accountable when their commentary inflames division. The tension between comedy, commentary, and corporate liability has never been clearer.
The move also comes shortly after The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was cancelled. At the time, President Donald Trump predicted Kimmel would be “next.” Now, that prediction has proven eerily accurate.
What Comes Next?
There are several possible outcomes for Jimmy Kimmel and Disney ABC:
- A Quiet Return – If affiliate and political pressure subsides, Kimmel could return without issuing an apology. This seems less likely as long as FCC scrutiny lingers.
- An Apology or Clarification – If Kimmel softens his stance, ABC could bring him back with less risk of further fallout. So far, he’s shown no interest in doing so.
- A Longer Suspension or Exit – If advertisers, affiliates, and regulators don’t back down, Disney may keep him off the air indefinitely, or even move to quietly end the show altogether. Kimmel’s contract ends within the next year, so they could just run out the clock.
As of today, no timeline has been announced for Kimmel’s possible return.
A screenshot of Jimmy Kimmel crying on TV after the election of Donald Trump – YouTube, Jimmy Kimmel Live
Whether Jimmy Kimmel returns or not will say much about where Disney and ABC stand in the ongoing clash between political free speech, the spread of misinformation, corporate risk, and the shifting late-night television landscape.
For now, one thing is certain: the man who once mocked conservatives nightly has been silenced—at least temporarily—by the very corporate bosses he works for.
Do you think Disney and ABC will bring back Jimmy Kimmel? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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He knowingly lied on Nat’l television which could cost his parent company their broadcast license.
Two MAJOR syndicates were pulling his show, regardless of abc’s intention.
He’s been hemorrhaging viewers, even to the tune of losing 11% in Sept. alone.
A vast majority of Americans no longer share his point of view. At all.
Advertisers were going to pull out of his show.
As two points above, the vast majority of Americans who watch network TV are old and conservative. He has NO audience.
Lame celebrity endorsements do not equate to viewership eyes.
He has no audience.
Why should he paid to use a bullhorn to no audience?
He’ll have some podcast with joy reid soon.
I hope he continues to refuse. No one will be shedding any tears for him once he does get fired, nor would they be sad if he’s never seen on television ever again.
Besides, even if he DID apologize, he wouldn’t mean it.