Inside Disney’s Abrupt Decision to Suspend Jimmy Kimmel’s Show
Soon after Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr blasted late-night host Jimmy Kimmel on Wednesday over remarks related to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, executives at ABC and parent company Disney knew they had a big problem.
Kimmel, during his Monday show, had criticized how President Trump and some other Republicans were responding to the fatal shooting. Carr suggested during a podcast appearance two days later that the FCC could take action against the broadcast licenses of ABC-owned stations.
Advertisers and affiliates soon called the network expressing concern about Kimmel’s show. Executives at Sinclair and Nexstar, owners of more than 60 local ABC stations, told network leaders after Carr’s remarks that they would “indefinitely preempt” the show starting that night, moves that would hobble the program’s reach.
Kimmel had planned to address Carr’s comments on his show Wednesday night, according to people familiar with the matter. Before his on-air appearance, Dana Walden, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, spoke to the host about his plan, the people said.
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