Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show comeback is being viewed by insiders as Disney’s move to manage the backlash. The network’s earlier suspension, prompted by Kimmel’s comments about Charlie Kirk, sparked widespread outrage from Hollywood. Sources indicate that Disney “underestimated” the extent of Kimmel’s support.
Disney underestimated Jimmy Kimmel amid suspension, claims source
Insiders reveal that Disney seriously misjudged the level of support Jimmy Kimmel enjoys following his comeback.
“They expected some noise, but not this tidal wave,” an industry source told #ShuterScoop, referring to the backlash after Kimmel’s show was pulled from the air. The source added, “When names like Hanks, Gomez, and Pascal jump in, it’s Hollywood versus censorship.”
Another source close to Kimmel has dismissed the network’s explanation, calling it “pure damage control.” They said, “This wasn’t reflection. It was damage control. They underestimated Jimmy’s support and caved.”
The suspension itself started after remarks Kimmel made regarding the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. This prompted ABC to temporarily pull Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air. However, the decision garnered widespread backlash, with Kimmel receiving support across Hollywood and beyond.
Over 400 actors, musicians, and creatives, including Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, Meryl Streep, and Olivia Rodrigo, signed an ACLU letter condemning the suspension. Fellow late-night hosts such as Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver vocally defended Kimmel. Meanwhile, several celebrities such as Tatiana Maslany and Rosie O’Donnell encouraged audiences to cancel Disney+ subscriptions in protest.
After the widespread criticism, Disney announced last week that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would return to television, starting on September 23. In a statement, they said, “Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country.”
They added, “We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.”
