Jimmy Kimmel was unexpectedly informed on Wednesday, in a phone call just before it happened, that ABC had cancelled his late-night show with no set date for its return.
Just hours before filming was scheduled to begin at Hollywood’s El Capitan Theater, Dana Walden, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment, personally shared the news, as reported by Deadline.
According to insiders, the discussion was considerate and respectful. However, the final decision, which was approved by Walden and Disney’s CEO Bob Iger, came as a shock to Kimmel.
Before working at Disney Entertainment, 60-year-old Walden led Fox Television Group as its chairman and CEO.
She currently oversees ABC Entertainment, ABC News, ABC’s local television stations, Disney Television Studios, Freeform, FX, Hulu Originals, National Geographic Content, and other related divisions.
Sources close to the situation report that the late-night host has refused to apologize for comments he made earlier this week, which connected the person who killed Charlie Kirk’s associate to supporters of Donald Trump.
Jimmy Kimmel said Monday that supporters of Donald Trump, often called the ‘MAGA gang,’ are working hard to distance themselves from the person who allegedly attacked Charlie Kirk. He added that they seem to be trying to use the incident to their political advantage.
Kimmel’s remarks quickly caused strong reactions from conservatives and prompted a response from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who described them as deeply offensive.
Instead of backing down, sources say Kimmel planned to reinforce his position on his next show. Disney executives worried this would only make the situation worse.
This suspension is a first for Jimmy Kimmel, who has hosted the late-night show since 2003, marking the first significant break in his 22 years on the air.
Friends say the comedian is ‘angry but unbowed’ and feels Disney caved to political pressure.
After the announcement, a source told The Daily Mail that Kimmel ‘feels betrayed.’
According to a source close to the situation, Jimmy is known for taking risks, and his fans appreciate that about him. While he’s upset about the potential consequences of a recent comment, especially considering his long history with ABC, he doesn’t regret what he said.
The news was a surprise to everyone at Jimmy Kimmel Live!, as many were still on phone calls with publicists discussing future guests when it happened.
Everyone is stunned,” a celebrity publicist shared with CNN. “Jimmy’s show was a long-standing fixture at ABC, and this news was completely unexpected.”
When the show was canceled, guests who were scheduled to appear on Wednesday’s episode, like Wanda Sykes, were already on their way to the theater.
‘So, I’m in a full face of makeup because I was supposed to go over and have a chat with my friend Jimmy Kimmel,’ Sykes, 61, told fans in an Instagram video. ‘But as you have heard by now, The Jimmy Kimmel Show has been pulled indefinitely — abruptly — because of complaints from the Trump administration.’
She ended her recording with a message to her fans: ‘If you’re someone who prays, now would be a good time. Sending love, Jimmy.’
Although the show hasn’t been canceled yet, sources say there are currently no plans for Jimmy Kimmel to return, and there’s no idea when or if he will.
His wife, Molly McNearney, is a head writer and executive producer who is supporting him as they deal with the consequences of this situation.
Since the news, numerous Hollywood celebrities have rushed to defend Kimmel.
Ben Stiller shared the news on X (formerly Twitter) that ABC was removing Jimmy Kimmel’s show and simply wrote, ‘This isn’t right.’
John Legend shared a post highlighting a point made by David Frum. Frum questioned the accusation of fascism leveled against those who suggested government action against TV networks if comedians criticize them.
Josh Gad expressed concern that people are now simply accepting authoritarianism without resistance, stating, ‘God help us all.’
Actress Alison Brie shared a news alert on Instagram: ‘This is unreal. And very scary.’
Henry Winkler praised Jimmy Kimmel on X, saying his comedy and perspective help us understand ourselves, and that he’s a genuinely kind person.
Jamie Lee Curtis, 66, recently shared a post on Instagram supporting Jimmy Kimmel after he addressed controversy. She reposted a photo of Kimmel with a quote from him stating he doesn’t believe in ‘canceling’ people, following a heartfelt statement she made about Kirk Douglas.
Singer Halsey also reacted to the news of Kimmel’s cancelation on her Instagram stories.
She followed up by saying we’ve reached the stage where people are encouraged to report on each other, censorship is rampant, and propaganda is so pervasive it’s hard to tell what’s true – a clear sign of fascism, if it wasn’t already obvious.
MSNBC host and political commentator Chris Hayes said the recent actions represent the most direct assault on free speech he’s ever witnessed, calling it far worse than anything he’s seen before.
As a long-time observer, I was really disturbed by Governor Newsom’s recent post on X. He’s pointing out what seems like a clear pattern: the GOP appears to be actively trying to control what information people see. He’s saying it’s not just random events – things like buying up media, getting rid of commentators, and cancelling programs – but a deliberate, coordinated effort to silence opposing viewpoints. He feels, and I’m starting to agree, that this is a direct attack on free speech and is happening right now.
Writers’ and actors’ unions stated that ABC giving in to government pressure was a violation of their First Amendment rights, arguing the network shouldn’t have yielded.
As a dedicated follower of the news, I was really disturbed to see Jimmy Kimmel’s show suspended. It seems like anyone who’s spoken about the tragic death of the 31-year-old in Utah – whether they’re a TV host, a professor, a teacher, or just someone working at a company – is facing consequences for their words. It’s a really worrying trend.
The Writers Guild of America West and East released a joint statement acknowledging that they’ve reached an agreement that allows for disagreements, even if it’s difficult. They described it as an agreement to respectfully accept differing opinions.
It’s a disgrace when leaders forget this basic principle. And to our employers, remember that our contributions have brought you success. Suppressing our voices ultimately harms everyone.
Donald Trump reacted to the news on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating that the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel’s show was ‘Great News for America,’ and noting its struggling ratings.
It’s good to see ABC taking necessary action. Jimmy Kimmel lacks talent and his show performs even worse in ratings compared to Stephen Colbert’s, which is quite a feat.
Trump ended by criticizing Jimmy and Seth, calling them ‘total losers’ and noting their show on NBC has ‘horrible’ ratings. He urged NBC to take action, signing off as ‘President DJT’.
The President mentioned Stephen Colbert, a late-night talk show host whose program was canceled by CBS in July.
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert will come to an end next year in May 2026.
Despite the cancellation, Colbert notably won an Emmy over the weekend for Outstanding Talk Series.
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2025-09-18 19:20