Film and TV writers — and Michael Eisner — blast Disney for benching Jimmy Kimmel

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Over a hundred members of the Writers Guild of America East, along with their allies, gathered outside Disney’s New York City office on Friday to demonstrate against ABC’s cancellation of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

The late-night show hasn’t aired since Wednesday, when the network announced it was pausing production without giving a specific return date. This came after two major local stations that broadcast the show decided to stop airing it, due to comments made by the host about a suspect in the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Writers represented by the union protested, arguing the decision was a threat to free speech and criticizing Disney executives for being weak.

Messages displayed included criticisms like “Disney and ABC Capitulation and Censorship” and “Absolute Cowards,” with some using stronger language. Protesters also chanted “Bring Jimmy back.”

The protest showed how upset people in the creative world were about Kimmel being taken off the air. This followed a call from Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr, made during a podcast interview on Wednesday, for his removal.

Carr warned that if Kimmel wasn’t addressed, the television stations broadcasting his show could face repercussions.

During his Monday night show, Jimmy Kimmel hinted that Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk, might be a supporter of Donald Trump. Kimmel noted that Trump supporters were working hard to distance themselves from Robinson and were attempting to use the situation for political gain.

Kimmel’s comments sparked strong criticism from conservatives online, with many calling for him to be fired. While Kimmel has publicly acknowledged the Kirk family’s pain, he hasn’t yet responded to the calls for his removal.

President Trump has suggested that late-night comedy shows critical of his administration should be taken off the air. He publicly supported ABC’s decision to do so, and also praised the recent cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show on CBS.

Hollywood Inc.

SAG-AFTRA and WGA protest the decision to pull the late-night show after FCC chairman’s threats.

Jimmy Kimmel’s show is still not airing, but he’s been talking with Disney about plans to return. However, it’s unclear if he’ll continue working with the network long-term.

Greg Iwinski, a writer for late-night television and a leader with the Writers Guild of America East, explained that threatening to revoke a broadcaster’s license is a risky tactic. He believes it could be applied to any show and ultimately discourage creative freedom.

Iwinski explained that the technology could be used on any television network and for any type of show – late-night, daytime, game shows, or comedies – essentially any program currently on traditional network TV is potentially affected.

Iwinski cautioned that ABC’s decisions could lead the Trump administration to increase its regulation of television and radio broadcasting.

He questioned what would happen if a romantic relationship depicted in a TV show didn’t align with Donald Trump’s beliefs. He suggested that if the relationship didn’t reflect Trump’s views on racial representation, there could be consequences, like the potential loss of broadcasting licenses.

Members of the WGA East were joined in their support by local leaders, such as New York City Comptroller Brad Lander.

People across the entertainment industry are speaking out against ABC’s recent decisions, including Michael Eisner, who used to run Disney before Bob Iger’s first term as CEO.

Michael Eisner recently questioned the lack of leadership on X, formerly Twitter. He specifically asked who will defend free speech if leaders like university presidents, law firm heads, and CEOs don’t stand up against those who try to silence others.

Eisner said ABC’s action is “yet another example of out of control intimidation” by the FCC.

Eisner suggested the First Amendment could have been worded differently, perhaps stating that free speech and press shouldn’t be limited unless someone is trying to protect their own political or financial interests. He also clarified that, despite any public perception, he thinks Jimmy Kimmel is a very talented and funny comedian.

Disney did not immediately comment on Eisner’s post.

Damon Lindelof, known for co-creating the popular TV show “Lost” and winning an Emmy for his work, announced on Instagram Wednesday that he will stop working with Disney and ABC if Jimmy Kimmel isn’t brought back to his position.

Senator Ted Cruz, a prominent Republican, strongly criticized the FCC chair on Friday, calling their threats “extremely dangerous” and likening them to the methods used by organized crime.

Carr, consistently aligned with Trump’s views on the media, has stated that television stations are within their rights to cancel a program if its content doesn’t align with local community values.

TV stations have always been expected to serve their local communities as part of their operating licenses. They’ve also always had the right to skip national programs they feel don’t align with the public interest or local values. It’s good to see many stations are now responding to what their viewers want.

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2025-09-20 01:32