According to a leading executive at Sinclair, whether or not Jimmy Kimmel continues in his role depends on decisions made by Disney. The executive stated that Disney ultimately controls Kimmel’s future.
Rob Weisbord, who is Sinclair’s chief operating officer and president of Local Media, discussed the future of Kimmel’s ABC late-night show on Tuesday. He was speaking on the red carpet at New York City’s Ziegfeld Ballroom.
According to Daily Mail, the future of Jimmy Kimmel Live! depends on a decision from its parent company, Disney. This comes after Kimmel faced suspension earlier this month for remarks he made during a monologue about the response to the tragic death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
According to Weisbord, who was a recent honoree at the Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame, that was a decision made by Disney, and not by its affiliates. He stated, ‘I think that’s a Disney decision, that’s not an affiliate decision.’
Weisbord added, ‘The choice regarding Kimmel rests with Disney and its leadership,’ noting that his viewership numbers have fluctuated since he resumed broadcasting.
The television executive addressed several questions regarding the recent public debate around Kimmel, which has been a major topic in national news for the past few weeks.
I see everything as a fleeting moment – we’ve successfully had talks with Disney, that phase is now over, and we’re continuing to move ahead,” Weisbord stated.
Weisbord explained that the focus should be on national healing and avoiding becoming numb to acts of violence like murders and assassinations.
As a lifestyle commentator, I’ve been following the news, and I want to address something that’s been causing a lot of discussion. On his September 15th broadcast, Jimmy Kimmel made some comments regarding the tragic aftermath of the shooting of a student, Kirk, on a college campus in Utah. The incident involved a 22-year-old suspect, and Kimmel’s remarks about the situation are what’s sparked controversy. It’s a sensitive topic, and I felt it was important to acknowledge the context of his comments and the impact they’ve had.
Kimmel stated, ‘Over the weekend, we saw a new low point as supporters of MAGA frantically attempted to distance themselves from the individual who attacked Charlie Kirk, trying to claim he wasn’t one of their own.’
‘And doing everything they can to score political points from it.’
ABC then put him on leave, and other stations, like Sinclair based in Maryland, requested both an apology and a contribution to Turning Point USA, the organization supported by the late Kirk.
During his broadcast on September 23rd – his first show after being suspended – Jimmy Kimmel emphasized that he never intended to make fun of Kirk’s death at the age of 31 with his earlier statements.
Kimmel stated he doesn’t expect to change anyone’s opinion, but he felt it was important to express something clearly as a person. ‘I want to make something clear,’ he said, ‘because it’s important to me as a human.’
He went on to say: ‘I want to be clear that I never meant to downplay the seriousness of a young man’s murder – I absolutely don’t find anything humorous about it.’
Kimmel denied that he was looking to put blame on any specific groups for the tragic murder.
‘That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make,’ Kimmel said.
Kimmel called shooting suspect Tyler Robinson ‘obviously a deeply disturbed individual.’
He acknowledged that some of his first statements ‘felt either poorly timed, confusing, or a combination of both’ so shortly after the tragic and senseless death of Kirk.
Also receiving honors in New York City on Tuesday were Drew Barrymore, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro.
When asked about the awards he was getting on Tuesday, Weisbord described it as ‘very humbling’ and ‘the result of years of dedication and effort’.
He stated, ‘It truly shows how amazing the team I work with is – you can’t achieve this award on your own, it’s a real celebration of a fantastic team and excellent mentorship.’
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2025-10-01 02:49