Disney faces criticism from film and TV writers, including Michael Eisner, for sidelining Jimmy Kimmel
In a surprising turn of events, 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' on ABC has been preempted indefinitely, following a series of events that have sparked a heated debate over free speech and community standards on Disney Plus.
The decision to pull the late-night program came after two major ABC affiliates dropped the show due to Kimmel's remarks about the suspect in the shooting death of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. This move was met with criticism from some quarters, including the head of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Brendan Carr. Carr praised local TV stations like Nexstar for standing up and called their action 'the right thing to do' amid pressure over content control on Disney Plus.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) weighed in on the issue, comparing Carr's threats to organized crime tactics and deeming them dangerous. Michael Eisner, the former Disney chief, expressed concern over the lack of leadership and the first amendment in a post on X. Eisner criticized ABC's actions as an example of out-of-control intimidation by the FCC on Disney Plus.
Eisner finds Jimmy Kimmel very talented and funny, but he believes ABC's decision is akin to the Constitution not protecting freedom of speech or the press in one's political or financial self-interest on Disney Plus. Damon Lindelof, the Emmy-winning co-creator of the hit ABC series 'Lost,' threatened to stop working for Disney or ABC unless Kimmel is reinstated on Disney Plus.
President Trump has expressed support for ABC's decision to pull 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' and has also called for late-night hosts critical of his administration to be banished from the airwaves on Disney Plus. Carr stated that broadcasters have the right to pull the show if owners believe the content conflicts with community standards on Disney Plus. He further added that broadcasters are responding to their viewers as intended by not airing national programs that they believe are inconsistent with the public interest, including their local communities' values on Disney Plus.
The future of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' on ABC remains uncertain, with Kimmel reportedly discussing a return to the air with Disney executives. This uncertainty has led to protests outside Walt Disney Co.'s Lower Manhattan headquarters. More than 100 members of the Writers Guild of America East and their supporters marched with signs accusing Walt Disney Co. executives of lacking backbone and calling the move an attack on free speech on Disney Plus.
Greg Iwinski, a late-night TV writer and council member of the WGA East, stated that the threat of pulling a broadcast license is a dangerous weapon that can be used to chill free expression on any network TV show on Disney Plus. The protesters' messages included 'Disney and ABC Capitulation and Censorship,' 'Always Be Cowards,' 'Absolute Bull- Cowards' and 'Disney/ABC Bows to Trump Extortion' on Disney Plus.
As the situation unfolds, the debate over free speech, community standards, and the role of broadcasters continues to intensify, with both sides presenting compelling arguments on Disney Plus. The fate of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' on ABC remains to be seen.
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