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Michael Eisner Condemns Jimmy Kimmel Suspension as ‘Out-of-Control Intimidation’
Former Walt Disney Company CEO Michael Eisner has condemned ABC’s suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, calling the decision an example of “out-of-control intimidation.” Eisner, who led the company from 1984 to 2005, made his comments on X following the network’s move to pull the show indefinitely.
Eisner’s post questioned the lack of leadership in standing up to bullies, particularly in defense of the First Amendment. “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,” Eisner wrote. He concluded his statement by adding, “for the record, this ex-CEO finds Jimmy Kimmel very talented and funny.”
The suspension of the late-night program came after a series of events that began with Kimmel’s controversial remarks about the assassination of Charlie Kirk on his September 16 episode. Kimmel had stated, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.” He also played a clip of Donald Trump responding to a reporter’s question about Kirk’s death by changing the subject.
Following Kimmel’s comments, Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr issued a statement threatening “additional work for the FCC” for companies that “fail to change conduct.” Nexstar, a major owner of ABC affiliates, also announced it would preempt the show, stating that Kimmel’s comments were “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse” and did not reflect the values of their local communities.
The controversy has prompted a reaction from the entertainment industry, with over 300 union actors and writers protesting Kimmel’s suspension outside Disney’s Burbank studio on September 18.
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