ABC
Jimmy Kimmel is in talks with ABC to bring his show back on the air. Kimmel was “indefinitely suspended” after making comments about the shooting of Charlie Kirk last week.
Jimmy Kimmel being taken off the air came following pressure from FCC Chair Brendan Carr, which has turned it into a massive free speech political issue.
Earlier this year, CBS announced that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was being canceled, prompting speculation that the move was made as Paramount, CBS’ parent company, seeks government approval for a merger.
According to reports from Bloomberg, however, while Disney “wants Kimmel” back on the rair, he’s been asked to tone down his “political rhetoric.”
Disney and Jimmy Kimmel in talks to bring his show back on the air but tone down the “political rhetoric”
“Disney wants Kimmel back on the air. But Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger and entertainment head Dana Walden have also asked him to tone down his political rhetoric. Kimmel won’t apologize, nor does he want to be muzzled or censored. He also doesn’t want to put 200 employees out of work or give Trump a scalp.” [via Bloomberg]
After the news about Jimmy Kimmel Live‘s suspension, President Trump took to his social media platform to suggest that NBC should cancel The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers next.
“Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done. Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible. That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Following news of his suspension, virtually all of late night television came to Kimmel’s defense, including David Letterman, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Conan O’Brien, John Stewart, and more.
At this time, Kimmel has yet to make a public statement regarding ABC — which is owned by Disney — pulling his show off the air.