As of Friday, Jimmy Kimmel Live! remains off-air "indefinitely" following its suspension on Wednesday, amid backlash over Kimmel's comments linking the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk to the "MAGA gang."
However, internal discussions between Kimmel's team and Disney/ABC executives have intensified, with reports indicating a strong desire to resume the show soon—potentially as early as next week—but no final agreement has been reached. The suspension is widely viewed as a temporary de-escalation tactic rather than a termination, driven by pressures from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's threats to review ABC's broadcast licenses, affiliate stations (like Nexstar and Sinclair) refusing to air the show, and advertiser concerns.
Kimmel and his team met with top Disney executives, including CEO Bob Iger and Television co-chair Dana Walden, in Los Angeles on Thursday. The talks aimed to chart a path forward but ended in a deadlock. Disney is pushing for Kimmel to "de-escalate" his on-air rhetoric, particularly avoiding further inflammatory comments on political topics like the Kirk assassination or Trump/MAGA narratives, to mitigate FCC scrutiny and affiliate boycotts.
Kimmel, however, reportedly wants to address the controversy directly upon return, potentially with a monologue defending his original remarks and free speech. Sources describe the atmosphere as tense, with Disney emphasizing the need to protect the broader ABC network from license revocation risks.
Growing unrest among Disney employees and Hollywood allies has complicated the talks. Protests by Writers Guild of America (WGA) members outside Disney Studios in Burbank on September 18 highlighted fears of "government overreach" and self-censorship. Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner publicly criticized the suspension as "out-of-control intimidation," urging corporate leaders to defend the First Amendment.
Affiliate and Business Pressures: Major ABC affiliates like Nexstar (32 stations) and Sinclair (28 stations) continue to preempt the show "for the foreseeable future," citing objections to Kimmel's comments. Nexstar's stance is tied to its pending $6.2 billion merger with Tegna, which requires FCC approval, adding leverage to their demands. Advertisers are holding spots for a potential return but seeking refunds, as the show generated $76.6 million in ad revenue in 2024.
Kimmel's ratings have declined 24% year-over-year to about 129,000 viewers, but executives view him as a key asset under his remaining one-year contract.