21/09/2025
Who’s really at fault here?
We’ve all seen the fallout from Jimmy Kimmel Live! being pulled off the air after those controversial on-air comments. A lot of people are pointing fingers at FCC Chair Brendan Carr, especially after he went on the Benny Johnson show and warned about possible license issues for ABC. That’s the version of events we’re “allowed” to believe.
But reports from outlets like The Hollywood Reporter tell a different story. According to their reporting, Disney execs were already in immediate talks about removing Kimmel as soon as the episode aired — knowing full well the backlash was coming. They waited to see how Kimmel would respond on Wednesday’s show. Instead of damage control, he doubled down.
That’s when the nerves set in at Disney and ABC, especially with Nexstar finalizing its merger with TEGNA — a bad PR storm could have threatened the deal. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt even said in a briefing that the decision to end Jimmy Kimmel Live! came directly from Disney and ABC executives, not the Trump administration. What’s interesting? Disney and ABC haven’t said a word since her statement.
So, what do you think? Was this really FCC pressure, or were Disney and ABC protecting their own bottom line?
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Disney’s Bob Iger and Dana Walden wanted to know how Kimmel was going to address the situation. Sources say he planned to defend what he said rather than "kowtowing” to the outrage. Disney thought that would fan the flames.