Tatiana Maslany urged fans to cancel Disney Plus subscriptions as ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live indefinitely in the wake of remarks about the political influencer Charlie Kirk. The She-Hulk star, 39, posted on Instagram Stories on Thursday, sharing a behind the scenes image from She-Hulk: Attorney At Law and urging followers to cut Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN subscriptions in protest. The call came as Hollywood musicians, actors and writers weighed the network move amid a broader debate over political commentary on late night television.
ABC announced the show would not air for the foreseeable future, and Nexstar, whose stations carry the program in many markets, said it would replace the time slot with other programming in its ABC affiliated markets. The suspension followed Kimmel's monologue on Monday, in which he referenced the murder of Charlie Kirk and suggested that the MAGA movement was attempting to score political points from the tragedy. Investigators have since indicated the shooter held far left beliefs and was in a relationship with a transgender roommate. The controversy has intensified scrutiny of how late night hosts address real world violence and partisan politics.
The decision drew immediate reactions from colleagues and industry groups. Ben Stiller reposted the news on X with a note of disagreement. John Legend shared a post criticizing how the moment was handled, and Josh Gad commented on the broader issue of free expression. Alison Brie posted a news alert, while Henry Winkler defended the principle of speaking one mind. Jamie Lee Curtis, who has spoken about Kirk in recent days, reflected on cancel culture in relation to the broader discussion. The SAG-AFTRA acting union and the WGA also issued statements backing free expression and the protection of writers and performers to share diverse viewpoints.
Rodriguez, Kimmel’s longtime sidekick, and other staffers were seen leaving the studio as the news broke. Deadline reported that Kimmel was planning to address his controversial remarks on his show the night the suspension was announced, but the decision cut short those plans. In the days that followed, the local and national affiliate networks reiterated that the decision was driven by concerns about what was aired, with some stations announcing changes to programming in the interim even as negotiations continued.
The reshuffling touched several outlets. Nexstar said it would replace the Kimmel broadcast in ABC markets with other programming, while Sinclair Broadcasting said it would run a Charlie Kirk tribute in place of Kimmel in its local outlets. The Kirk-Turning Point USA layer of the story added a political business dimension to a cultural moment that has drawn in figures across entertainment and politics.
Reaction also extended into the political sphere. Former President Donald Trump shared his own stance on Truth Social, applauding the decision to cancel the show and criticizing Kimmel in turn. The episode has intensified discussions about the boundaries between satire and political advocacy in a media landscape where streaming and broadcast platforms are increasingly interwoven. As the industry processes the fallout, Maslany and others who voiced support for a boycott may influence how fans engage with streaming services during political crises.
In the weeks ahead, observers will watch whether the culture and entertainment industries recalibrate how late night hosts address political topics and tragedy. The episode also highlights ongoing tensions over corporate influence, audience activism and the role of unions in shaping the boundaries of free expression within entertainment.