Disney Draws the Line & Sets Terms for Kimmel’s Return According to Latest Reports

Disney is trying to bring Jimmy Kimmel back to late-night TV, but talks over how that might happen are running into trouble.

According to people close to the discussions, Kimmel met with Disney leaders last week, including CEO Bob Iger and entertainment boss Dana Walden.

The two sides have stayed in touch since and plan to meet again soon. Disney has also been speaking with local station owners like Nexstar and Sinclair about what would happen if Jimmy Kimmel Live! returns.

Disney wants Kimmel back on the air, but they’ve asked him to tone down his political jokes. Kimmel has pushed back.

He doesn’t want to be censored or forced to apologize. He’s also worried about the hundreds of staffers who depend on the show for work. As one person close to the talks explained, he doesn’t want to “give Trump a scalp” says Bloomberg report.

The fight grew after Sinclair Broadcast Group, the country’s biggest ABC affiliate operator, announced it would no longer air Kimmel’s show.

That decision came after Kimmel made comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Following Sinclair’s move, ABC put the program on hold.

Sinclair Vice Chairman Jason Smith said in a statement, “Mr. Kimmel’s remarks were inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country. We believe broadcasters have a responsibility to educate and elevate respectful, constructive dialogue in our communities.”

Smith also called for tighter federal oversight, saying, “This incident highlights the critical need for the FCC to take immediate regulatory action to address control held over local broadcasters by the big national networks.”

Not everyone agrees with Sinclair’s reasoning. Some critics say the suspension is more about politics than about standards. Former President Donald Trump has argued something else entirely, suggesting the real issue may be weak ratings.

Numbers show Kimmel’s viewership has dropped sharply over the last ten years. In 2015, the show pulled in about 2.4 million viewers. Today, that audience has fallen to 1.6 million. Among adults aged 25 to 54—a group advertisers care about most—the fall has been even more severe, dropping from nearly a million viewers in 2015 to about 261,000 this year.

The decision to halt the show has also angered some Disney customers. Many people online have shared screenshots canceling their Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions, accusing the company of caving to political pressure.

Hashtags like #CancelDisney and #CancelDisneyPlus began trending soon after the suspension was announced.

One person wrote, “Just canceled my Disney+ and Hulu subscription because ABC caved to Trump’s and Carr’s fascism.” Another added, “Disney bent at the knee and canceled Kimmel. Maybe it’s time for Democrats and Liberals to cancel Disney?”

The outcome of these negotiations will shape more than just Jimmy Kimmel’s career. It could also affect the reputations of Bob Iger, Dana Walden, and Disney itself, which is already under pressure on several fronts.

Disney is stuck between keeping control of its brand and letting a high-profile host like Kimmel have the freedom that makes him who he is. Trying to force him to “tone it down” risks losing authenticity, but keeping him uncensored risks losing affiliates and advertisers. Either way, it’s a tough call. What do you think?

Should Disney step back and let Kimmel be himself, or are they right to demand limits? Share your thoughts in the comments.