Disney Faces Backlash as Trump Celebrates Move, Sparking Fears of 'Cancel Culture' in Reverse

September 18, 2025

Los Angeles, California – In a stunning blow to late-night television, ABC announced Wednesday that "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" has been pulled off the air indefinitely following host Jimmy Kimmel's pointed monologue criticizing conservative reactions to the fatal shooting of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. The decision, made amid mounting pressure from affiliates and regulators, has ignited a firestorm of debate over free speech, political retribution, and the future of satirical comedy in a polarized media landscape.

The controversy erupted earlier this week when Kimmel, during his Monday night broadcast, lambasted what he called the "MAGA gang" for allegedly politicizing Kirk's death, describing their efforts to portray the accused shooter as an outsider as a desperate bid for "political points." "We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them," Kimmel said, mocking flags at half-mast in Kirk's honor and President Donald Trump's personal response to the tragedy. The remarks, delivered with Kimmel's signature blend of sarcasm and outrage, drew swift condemnation from conservative circles, including Nexstar Media Group, which owns several ABC affiliates and declared it would preempt the show starting Wednesday.

ABC, owned by Disney, confirmed the suspension late Tuesday, stating the show would be "pre-empted indefinitely" without specifying a timeline for return. Sources close to the network told The New York Times that the call was made by Disney CEO Robert A. Iger and television chief Dana Walden, influenced in part by a stern rebuke from Trump-appointed FCC Chair Brendan Carr, who warned of potential license reviews for broadcasters airing "inflammatory" content. Kimmel, whose contract expires in May 2026, has not commented publicly, but a source familiar with the matter told CNBC that network executives plan to discuss guidelines for his potential return.

President Trump wasted no time in reveling in the news, posting on Truth Social from London during a state visit: "Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done. Kimmel has ZERO talent." He extended his barbs to other late-night hosts, calling NBC's Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers "two total losers" who should follow suit. The president's glee contrasted sharply with outcry from Democrats and free speech advocates. California Gov. Gavin Newsom decried the move as "coordinated" suppression by the Republican Party, which he said "does not believe in free speech." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer echoed the sentiment on social media: "America is meant to be a bastion of free speech. Everybody across the political spectrum should be speaking out."

Hollywood's reaction was swift and divided. The Writers Guild of America condemned the suspension as an assault on dissent, vowing to stand "united in opposition to anyone who uses their power... to silence the voices of writers." SAG-AFTRA labeled it "suppression and retaliation that endangers everyone's freedoms." On X, users expressed a mix of schadenfreude and concern: one conservative poster hailed it as "long past due" for "boring leftist junk TV," while a self-described moderate worried it signals fragile values on free speech. Fans outside the Hollywood Boulevard studio, some queued for tickets, voiced disappointment, with one tweeting, "Damn i wanted to go to the jimmy kimmel show now its canceled in what world are we living."

This isn't the first tremor in late-night TV's foundation. CBS axed "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" in July, citing financial woes amid cord-cutting trends, though speculation persists that Colbert's Trump critiques factored in, especially with Paramount's merger under scrutiny. Kimmel himself had hinted at retirement in recent years, once saying in 2022 he'd quit if barred from mocking Trump. "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," a staple since 2003, has weathered scandals before, but this suspension—framed by critics as "actual cancel culture"—raises questions about comedy's boundaries in an era of regulatory oversight.

As vigils for Kirk continue and investigations into his shooting unfold, the entertainment world braces for fallout. Will Kimmel return with a muzzle, or is this the end of an era? For now, late-night's brightest lights flicker uncertainly, a casualty of the very culture wars they've long lampooned.