Jimmy Kimmel Planned “Very Hot” Monologue Targeting Trump Supporters Before Disney Pulled the Plug — Iger and Walden Said No

On September 17, 2025, Disney unexpectedly canceled *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* after Jimmy Kimmel made false and highly critical statements about the death of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. Kimmel’s comments, which accused supporters of Donald Trump of distorting facts and taking advantage of a tragedy, have sparked a major controversy in the entertainment world.

The current controversy stems from a clash between political views, the requirements of broadcasting, and decisions made by Disney’s leadership. Sources say Jimmy Kimmel wouldn’t apologize for his comments and had even written a particularly critical monologue for the night his show was threatened, one described as highly provocative and targeting those who support President Trump.

That was when Disney made the decision to yank Kimmel off the air.

What Kimmel Said On Air

The issue started when Jimmy Kimmel, during his Monday night show, suggested a connection between the shooting of Kirk and right-wing politics. He stated that supporters of Donald Trump were working hard to distance the shooter from their group and were attempting to use the situation to their political advantage.

Breaking news: Disney and ABC have suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s show indefinitely after he made false claims about the person who confronted Charlie Kirk, incorrectly linking them to the MAGA movement, according to the Wall Street Journal.

This came right after the ABC affiliates canceled Kimmel via Nexstar.

FAFO, LOSER!

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 17, 2025

The statement quickly caused widespread anger. News reports had detailed that the person accused of killing Kirk allegedly wrote what appeared to be “anti-fascist” messages on his ammunition and lived with a partner who was transitioning from male to female. While his parents are said to be conservative Trump supporters, this doesn’t necessarily mean the alleged killer shares those views.

What Kimmel stated was completely untrue. At best, it was simply inaccurate information, but at worst, it was a deliberate attempt to mislead people.

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr supported the criticism of Kimmel, claiming he spread false information and calling the comments deeply disturbing. Carr also suggested the FCC might investigate.

Disney Executives Step In

Both *Fox Business* and *Deadline* report that Disney CEO Bob Iger and Disney Entertainment co-chair Dana Walden made the final call to temporarily remove the show from the air. Disney is describing this as an indefinite pause in broadcasting.

Simply put, the show hasn’t been canceled, but it’s been taken off the air for now with no plans to bring it back at a specific date. Disney is showing old episodes and other programs instead.

I’m really disappointed to hear that several ABC stations, like those owned by Nexstar and Sinclair, are upset with Jimmy Kimmel’s comments. It’s gone way too far, honestly. I understand Sinclair is demanding an apology, but asking for donations to Turning Point USA and the Kirk family? That feels like they’re trying to punish him and push a specific agenda. And now they’re replacing his show with a memorial special for Charlie Kirk on September 19th? It’s just unbelievable and feels incredibly biased.

The affiliates’ resistance, combined with regulatory pressure, left Disney in a corner.

The Monologue That Never Aired

It quickly became clear that Kimmel wasn’t planning to apologize. He was actually getting ready to defend his actions even more strongly.

News just in: Jimmy Kimmel was reportedly preparing to criticize supporters of Donald Trump again before his suspension.

ABC executives asked Jimmy Kimmel to issue an on-air apology, but he responded with a strongly worded monologue criticizing the MAGA movement instead.

Disney said “We can’t have him go on…

— Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) September 19, 2025

According to Fox News host Jesse Watters, Disney requested that Jimmy Kimmel retract his recent comments, but he declined. Sources at *The Hollywood Reporter* say Kimmel was preparing a strong monologue criticizing Trump supporters and claiming conservatives were intentionally misrepresenting his statements.

That incident seems to have been the final straw. Company leaders believed allowing him to present that content would only make the situation worse. As a result, the broadcast of *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* was canceled just hours before it was scheduled to air.

Not Fired (Yet)

Although there’s been a lot of talk, Jimmy Kimmel hasn’t actually been fired. According to CNBC’s Alex Sherman, he’s still under contract with Disney, and they plan to talk about what happens next when he comes back. This is an important difference: being fired means completely cutting ties, but a temporary removal from the air allows for discussions, potential consequences, or even a return to the show.

Just to clarify, reports indicate Jimmy Kimmel hasn’t been fired. Disney intends to discuss the situation with him when he’s back on the show.

— Alex Sherman (@sherman4949) September 18, 2025

President Trump has already stated that Jimmy Kimmel has been “fired,” and used the situation to criticize him, calling him “talentless” and implying the suspension was expected.

Union and Industry Pushback

The entertainment industry responded swiftly to the suspension, with both SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America calling it a suppression of free speech. They believe that penalizing a comedian for expressing political opinions – even if those opinions are considered offensive – could create a harmful pattern for the entire industry.

They failed to mention the misinformation portion of the remarks.

Social media boycotts of Disney, such as the #BoycottDisney campaign, are becoming increasingly popular with people across the political spectrum.

Why This Matters

What’s happening with Jimmy Kimmel and Disney feels like it’s about much more than just one person’s job. To me, it really brings to light some underlying issues and tensions that have been building for a while now. It’s not just a simple disagreement, it seems like something bigger is going on.

  • Corporate caution vs. free expression. Disney’s executives weighed the risks of keeping a controversial voice on the air against affiliate relationships, regulatory threats, and public perception.
  • Political speech in entertainment. Kimmel’s refusal to apologize and plan to double down raises questions about how far supposed “comedy” can go before it crosses into misinformation or inflammatory accusations.
  • Affiliate leverage. In an era when networks depend on local broadcasters, the objections of groups like Nexstar and Sinclair carried real weight in shaping Disney’s response.

This controversy is particularly bad timing for Disney. The company is already working to regain the trust of viewers in Middle America after being involved in several political and cultural debates. While canceling *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* might help local stations and avoid immediate problems with regulators, it could also upset people in the entertainment industry and lead to new boycotts.

Conclusion

Jimmy Kimmel is known for joking about politicians, but a planned monologue targeting supporters of President Trump apparently upset his employer, Disney. Sources say executives felt the segment was too risky and decided it shouldn’t air.

Honestly, I’m really hoping Jimmy Kimmel comes back to hosting. It feels like his future with late night, and whether he’ll be remembered alongside other hosts who faced tough times, all comes down to what happens in the meetings at Disney right now. It’s a waiting game, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

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2025-09-19 17:03