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Many television fans were shocked when ABC stated that Jimmy Kimmel Live! was going to be taken off the air “indefinitely”. The break immediately followed Jimmy Kimmel’s comments on the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which led to the FCC chair and the major affiliate owners pressuring the network into taking immediate action. What began as a night show segment soon became a major corporate and political issue.
Michael Eisner, the former CEO of Disney, which owns ABC, intervened in this drama. Eisner was not afraid to publicly criticize Disney executives who yielded to political bullying.
On X (previously Twitter), he wrote, “Where has all the leadership gone?” and termed the suspension as another instance of unhinged intimidation. He also mentioned that, in his opinion, Kimmel is highly talented and humorous.
People were surprised by the terse comments made by Eisner. When he praised Kimmel and blamed Disney, he made the situation more than a one-time joke on a night show. It has now turned into a debate on freedom of speech, corporate bravery, and how media corporations respond to political pressure.
What did Michael Eisner say about the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner’s reaction seemed personal, not only because he used to head Disney, but because he addressed the situation with a business authority. In brief posts and interviews, he mentioned that suspending Jimmy Kimmel’s show was tantamount to political pressure and that leaders should defend freedom of speech.
On his X account, Eisner posted saying:
“Where has all the leadership gone? If not for university presidents, law firm managing partners, and corporate chief executives standing up against bullies, who then will step up for the first amendment?”
That’s important. When the ex-CEO slanders his former company, it does not sound like a late-night rant; rather, it sounds like a stern warning from the boardroom. Several people in Hollywood concurred, and they considered the suspension a dangerous act. Unions, comics, and writers were also vocal about it.
Eisner further added in his X post:
“The ‘suspending indefinitely’ of Jimmy Kimmel immediately after the Chairman of the FCC’s aggressive yet hollow threatening of the Disney Company is yet another example of out-of-control intimidation. Maybe the Constitution should have said, ‘Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, except in one’s political or financial self-interest.'”
Eisner did not attack Kimmel. He described him as a talented person and maintained the emphasis on principle rather than personality.
Whether you thought Kimmel was funny or not, Eisner came up with one specific question: Do big media houses crumble under political pressure easily, or can they (or should they) take some heat to defend creativity and independent journalism? The question now lies in how Disney strikes a balance between those pressures.
Why Disney pulled the plug
ABC made the decision to take Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air over a very short period of time, owing to business and legal pressure.
Two large station groups were displeased with Jimmy Kimmel's monologue and claimed that they would not air his show any longer. Several hours later, the FCC dropped hints that the network might be subject to review by the government, which is a grave threat to any broadcaster.
ABC is owned by Disney, which possesses valuable TV licenses and a massive streaming business. This means that it should not only take free speech into consideration, but also potential lawsuits, partner stations, and investor confidence. The executives of this company needed to weigh the danger to their reputation against the risk of political hassle, and they chose to be on the safer side.
To some, that move is a capitulation, while others claim that it is an intelligent effort to save the company. What was also surprising was the fact that Disney responded to this very quickly and how the timing aligned with the political pressure. That speed made a business decision, a larger fight on culture and free expression, and elicited a major response among comedians, civil-liberty organizations, and Hollywood insiders.
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