Former Disney chief executive Michael Eisner has weighed in on ABC’s controversial decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely, blasting his former company’s leadership for caving under political pressure from the Trump administration.
Eisner, who left Disney two decades ago, took to X on Friday to voice his frustration.
“Where has all the leadership gone? If not for university presidents, law firm managing partners, and corporate chief executives standing up against bullies, who then will step up for the First Amendment?” Eisner wrote.
Eisner Calls Out “Out-of-Control Intimidation”
The 83-year-old executive argued that Disney’s move to sideline Kimmel came directly after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr issued thinly veiled threats against the network.
“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 said. “Maybe the Constitution should have said, ‘Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, except in one’s political or financial self-interest.’”
Pressure From Washington
ABC announced Kimmel’s suspension Wednesday without citing a reason, though the timing was notable. Hours earlier, two major station groups — Nexstar and Sinclair, together representing about 70 ABC affiliates — announced they would stop airing Kimmel’s program following remarks he made on Sept. 15 about the suspect accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
That same morning, Carr warned during a podcast appearance that unless ABC took action against Kimmel, both the network and its affiliates could face “additional work for the FCC ahead.” Carr added: “We can do this the easy way or the hard way.”
Within hours, Kimmel’s late-night show was off the air.
Eisner’s History With Disney and Kimmel
Eisner led Disney from 1984 until 2005, officially stepping down after announcing his departure plans the year prior. His tenure overlapped only briefly with Jimmy Kimmel Live!, which launched in January 2003.
Despite his sharp critique of Disney this week, Eisner had publicly supported current CEO Bob Iger as recently as last year. During Disney’s high-profile proxy battle with activist investor Nelson Peltz in early 2024, Eisner defended Iger’s leadership:
“Bringing in someone who doesn’t have experience in the company or the industry to disrupt Bob [Iger] and his eventual successor is playing not only with fire but earthquakes and hurricanes as well. The company is now in excellent hands and Disney shareholders should vote for the Disney slate,” he said at the time.
A Clash of Politics and Entertainment
The suspension of Kimmel, one of ABC’s longest-running late-night hosts, underscores the escalating tension between the entertainment industry and political power. Eisner’s criticism highlights the broader fear that corporate leaders, facing political intimidation and regulatory threats, may be compromising on core principles like free expression.
As Eisner bluntly put it: “Where has the leadership gone?”
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