Walt Disney Co. executives are preparing to meet with late-night host Jimmy Kimmel to discuss the future of his talk show after a controversy over remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The discussions come as Disney and ABC executives sought a careful response to social-media furor that intensified earlier this week, with critics accusing the network of bowing to political pressure and concerns raised for staff safety.
The furor escalated on Wednesday as death threats and other threats circulated online, prompting a reassessment of how to handle the situation. People familiar with the matter told Reuters that Disney CEO Bob Iger and Disney Entertainment co-Chair Dana Walden concluded that the best path would be to take Kimmel’s show off the air temporarily and later determine how to bring him back. Walden informed Kimmel of the decision as the 4:30 p.m. taping window approached. A representative for Kimmel did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. Executives were planning a meeting with Kimmel to discuss the show’s future, according to Bloomberg News.
Disney-owned ABC had pulled Kimmel’s program in response to his monologue about the assassination of Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, who has been associated with support for former President Donald Trump. Hollywood figures widely criticized the move as an infringement on free expression, even as others urged caution in the wake of threats directed at the host and staff.
In the broader fallout, FCC Chair Brendan Carr, in a Wednesday podcast appearance, said Kimmel had misled viewers about the shooter’s political affiliation and hinted at possible regulatory action. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr said. “These companies can change conduct and take action.” Carr noted hearings and closer scrutiny of broadcast behavior could follow, though he did not outline concrete steps.
Separate from the networkwide decision, Nexstar Media and Sinclair Broadcast Group—both with significant ABC affiliate portfolios—said they would stop airing Kimmel’s show following his monologue. Sinclair, which owns many ABC affiliates, indicated the program would be suspended until an apology to Kirk’s family is issued. Nexstar and Sinclair also have merger-related considerations before the FCC, which adds a layer of regulatory sensitivity to the moves.
The unfolding events have drawn scrutiny from across political lines. Former President Donald Trump, during a state visit to Britain, remarked that Kimmel had paid a price for what he described as saying “a horrible thing” about Kirk, underscoring the polarized environment surrounding late-night hosts and their commentary.
Bloomberg and Reuters, citing multiple people familiar with the matter, described the forthcoming meeting as a critical step in determining whether Kimmel’s program can return to the air and under what conditions. The situation illustrates the increasing stakes for media companies navigating political controversy, advertiser considerations, and safety concerns for staff and personnel.
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As Disney weighs its options, a spokesperson for Kimmel did not provide a comment, and Disney representatives have not released a final plan for the show’s future timing or format. The company’s leadership has stressed the need to balance free-speech considerations with the safety and well-being of its staff amid a highly charged public debate surrounding political discourse on late-night television.