Jimmy Kimmel, Disney, and the Death of Late Night: Was It Justified?
Editorial by STaff Writer David R 9/18/25 8Pm MST
At Misleading.com, we don’t tell you what to think—we show you what’s out there and let you decide. Was this mean-spirited moment from Kimmel enough to warrant cancellation? You be the judge.
It wasn’t just a cancellation. It was a cultural autopsy.
On September 17, 2025, Disney-owned ABC suspended “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” indefinitely. The trigger? A monologue in which Kimmel criticized the MAGA movement’s response to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Within hours, Nexstar and Sinclair—two of ABC’s largest affiliate groups—announced they would no longer air the show. The FCC, led by Chairman Brendan Carr, issued a warning: broadcasters must “operate in the public interest,” or face consequences.
Kimmel’s defenders called it censorship. His critics called it overdue. And Disney? They called it a business decision.
But this wasn’t just about one man’s words. It was about leverage. Disney, which owns ABC and ESPN, is actively seeking deeper ties with the NFL. That means regulatory goodwill. That means appeasing Washington. That means Kimmel—once the crown jewel of late-night satire—became a liability.
So was Jimmy Kimmel canceled for being mean-spirited? Or was he collateral damage in Disney’s billion-dollar playbook?
At Misleading.com, we don’t hand down verdicts. We provoke them. This editorial lays out both sides—Kimmel’s legacy, Disney’s motives, and the cultural stakes. You decide: Was this cancellation earned… or engineered?
The Flashpoint
Charlie Kirk was shot while speaking at Utah Valley University. The alleged assassin, Tyler Robinson, was quickly politicized. Kimmel’s monologue didn’t mince words. He accused the MAGA movement of trying to distance itself from Robinson, calling it “a desperate attempt to score political points in between the finger-pointing.”
The backlash was swift. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, called Kimmel’s remarks “some of the sickest conduct possible.” He threatened action against ABC and Disney, citing the public interest standard. Nexstar, which owns dozens of ABC affiliates and is seeking FCC approval for a $6 billion merger, announced it would no longer air Kimmel’s show. Sinclair followed suit, demanding an apology and a donation to Kirk’s family and Turning Point USA.
Within 48 hours, ABC pulled the plug. Kimmel was off the air. The studio audience was already lined up outside the El Capitan Theatre when the announcement came down
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Disney’s Dilemma
Disney’s media empire is vast. It owns ABC, ESPN, Hulu, and Disney+. It’s also in negotiations to acquire a stake in the NFL Network. That deal requires regulatory approval. And the FCC, under Carr, was suddenly scrutinizing Disney’s conduct.
Kimmel’s monologue became a bargaining chip. Disney didn’t issue a public statement explaining the suspension. But insiders told Rolling Stone and Inside the Magic that CEO Bob Iger and television chief Dana Walden made the call after affiliate pressure and FCC threats mounted.
This wasn’t just about content. It was about commerce. Disney needed to protect its NFL ambitions. Kimmel, once a ratings asset, had become a political liability.
The Case Against Kimmel
Let’s be honest: Jimmy Kimmel has been mean-spirited for years. His brand of satire often veered into cruelty. From mocking Melania Trump’s accent to ridiculing average Americans during “Lie Witness News,” Kimmel built a reputation for punching down.
Even allies began to distance themselves. Stephen A. Smith, ESPN’s outspoken commentator, criticized Kimmel’s tone in recent months, calling it “out of touch with the country’s mood.” Others pointed to Kimmel’s history of racial sketches, including the infamous “Karl Malone” impersonation, as evidence of a pattern.
Kimmel’s defenders say he evolved. His critics say he never did. The Charlie Kirk monologue was just the latest example of a host who mistook outrage for insight.
And in a media landscape increasingly defined by polarization, Kimmel’s brand of comedy felt less like satire and more like tribal warfare.
The Case for Kimmel
But satire is supposed to provoke. That’s the point.
Kimmel’s defenders—Hollywood unions, fellow comedians, and free speech advocates—argue that his monologue was a legitimate critique of political spin. The Writers Guild of America, SAG-AFTRA, and the American Federation of Musicians condemned the cancellation as an attack on free expression.
Ben Stiller, Wanda Sykes, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jean Smart all spoke out. “What Jimmy said was FREE speech, not hate speech,” Smart posted on Instagram. “People seem to only want to protect free speech when it suits THEIR agenda.”
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) accused the FCC of abusing its authority. “The government pressured ABC—and ABC caved,” the group said in a statement.
Kimmel wasn’t fired. He was preempted. But the message was clear: satire has limits, and those limits are now defined by political power.
The Political Fallout
The cancellation sparked a boycott movement. Hashtags like #CancelDisney and #CancelDisneyPlus trended across social media. Users posted screenshots of their subscription cancellations. Some called it censorship. Others called it cowardice.
Massachusetts Rep. Jim McGovern told ABC to “grow a pair.” Rep. Ro Khanna moved to subpoena FCC Chairman Carr, accusing him of “shredding the First Amendment.” Rep. Robert Garcia launched an investigation into ABC, Sinclair, and the FCC, calling the cancellation “a corrupt scheme”. President Trump praised the move. Hollywood condemned it. The country split—again.
The Business Behind the Curtain
There’s more behind Nexstar’s cancellation of Kimmel than just outrage. Nexstar is in the process of merging with Tegna, which would make it the largest station owner in the country. The deal violates current FCC ownership caps. For it to go through, Nexstar needs regulatory approval.
Sinclair, too, has pending deals. Both companies have billions on the line. Both need the FCC’s blessing. Both decided to yank Kimmel’s show.
Disney, meanwhile, is eyeing a deeper partnership with the NFL. ESPN already holds Monday Night Football. But Disney wants more—streaming rights, branding deals, and access to the NFL’s vast audience. That requires federal goodwill.
Kimmel’s cancellation wasn’t just a moral decision. It was a strategic one.
The Decline of Late Night
Late-night television is dying. Colbert’s ratings have plummeted. Fallon and Meyers are under pressure. Even “The Daily Show” has resorted to rotating hosts.
The Trump era reshaped media. Comedy became combat. Hosts became pundits. And audiences fragmented.
Kimmel’s cancellation is part of a broader trend. The cultural center cannot hold. Networks are retreating from controversy. Affiliates are asserting control. And satire, once a tool of civic critique, is being sanitized. Disney’s decision wasn’t just about Kimmel. It was about the future of late-night. And that future looks increasingly risk-averse.
The Cultural Stakes
This isn’t just about one show. It’s about the boundaries of speech. It’s about the role of satire. It’s about the power of corporations to shape discourse. Kimmel’s defenders argue that his monologue was a critique of political spin. His critics say it was reckless. The FCC says it was dangerous. Disney says it was bad for business.
But who decides what’s acceptable? Who draws the line between satire and slander? Who protects the provocateurs?
At Misleading.com, we believe in radical transparency. We believe in civic dialogue. We believe in asking hard questions.
So here’s ours: Was Jimmy Kimmel canceled for being cruel—or for being inconvenient?
Verdicts and Voices
So what do we make of this?
Was Jimmy Kimmel canceled for being cruel? Or was he sacrificed to protect Disney’s NFL ambitions?
Was the FCC’s intervention a defense of public interest—or a political power play?
Was this a moment of accountability—or a chilling precedent?
At Misleading.com, we don’t pretend to know the answers. We ask the questions. We provoke the debate. And we trust our users to decide. So here’s the challenge: Was this cancellation earned… or engineered?
Sound off. Vote. Comment. Share. The truth isn’t handed down. It’s built—one voice at a time.
