Disney CEO Says Jimmy Kimmel Was Suspended Over ‘Bad Taste’, Not Allegiance to President Donald Trump
Iger said Disney suspended Jimmy Kimmel because executives viewed his remarks as poorly timed and inappropriate, not because of political pressure.
- Former Disney CEO Bob Iger defended the 2025 suspension of Jimmy Kimmel in a recent interview, stating Disney removed "Jimmy Kimmel Live" because executives believed the host's comments were "in bad taste" rather than to appease President Trump.
- The suspension followed Kimmel's September 2025 monologue criticizing the "MAGA gang" for their reaction to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, where he suggested the suspected assassin, Tyler Robinson, was affiliated with them.
- Amid pressure from President Trump and his supporters, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr threatened action on Sept. 17, 2025, warning, "We can do this the easy way or the hard way," to discipline the late-night host.
- Kimmel returned to the air after five days, later telling Bloomberg he felt his remarks were "intentionally, and I think maliciously, mischaracterized," though Iger maintains the company's decision centered on professional judgment.
- The 2025 incident drew scrutiny from government officials and industry advocates, reigniting debates about free speech and corporate responsibility regarding the role of late-night television among Americans.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Disney CEO Says Jimmy Kimmel Was Suspended Over ‘Bad Taste’, Not Allegiance to President Donald Trump
Former Disney CEO Bob Iger denied that Jimmy Kimmel was suspended from his ABC late-night show last year to prove the network’s allegiance to President Donald Trump. “That was not the case,” Iger, 75, told the Financial Times in an interview published on Saturday, June 20. “We thought [Kimmel’s joke] was in bad taste.” Iger pointed out that Kimmel’s suspension lasted less than a week, noting,“We just wanted him to acknowledge that it was …
Bob Iger Maintains He Suspended Jimmy Kimmel Over 'Bad Taste' Joke, Not Trump Appeal
Former longtime Disney CEO Bob Iger has defended the company’s controversial decision to briefly suspend late night host Jimmy Kimmel last year, saying leadership believed Kimmel’s comments about the assassination of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk were genuinely “in bad taste.” Kimmel was suspended and his long-running ABC late night series, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” was pre-empted for five days from Sept. 17 through Sept. 22, 2025. Th…
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