Overview

• Kimmel and Disney/ABC have held meetings about a possible return but have not reached an agreement, and legal experts say any First Amendment claim would hinge on proving coercive government action rather than a voluntary corporate decision.
• FCC Chair Brendan Carr publicly warned broadcasters to take action over Kimmel’s remarks, prompting Nexstar and Sinclair to preempt the show before ABC suspended it, with analysts noting pending regulatory approvals that heighten corporate sensitivity.
• President Trump criticized Kimmel during Charlie Kirk’s memorial and praised ABC’s decision to pull the show, reinforcing the political context surrounding the suspension.
• John Oliver used his HBO platform to urge Disney CEO Bob Iger to reinstate Kimmel, calling the rationale for the suspension "laughably weak" and encouraging viewers to cancel Disney+ and Hulu.
• The backlash broadened as Howard Stern canceled his Disney+ subscription and artists including Sarah McLachlan and Jewel declined to perform at a Disney-affiliated premiere, while celebrities such as Olivia Rodrigo voiced support for Kimmel.