The intersection of politics, celebrity, and corporate decisions can often create a volatile mix, especially when the impact reaches a company as prominent as Disney. When a figure as well-known as Jimmy Kimmel finds himself in hot water, the ripple effects can extend far beyond the immediate controversy, especially for a company invested in streaming services.
Disney, a company synonymous with family entertainment, faced a delicate situation when its late-night talk show host, Kimmel, found himself embroiled in a highly publicized suspension.
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The situation started when, on September 17, Disney made the decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air “indefinitely,” following comments made by Kimmel about Donald Trump and the assassination of Charlie Kirk. The controversy surrounding the remarks caught the attention of Disney's two largest affiliate broadcasters, Sinclair Broadcasting and Nexstar Media, which swiftly announced they would no longer air the show on their stations.
The suspension sparked immediate backlash from fans, many of whom felt Disney was overstepping in suspending Kimmel due to political controversy. As the days passed, the pressure on Disney intensified, with fans not only protesting the decision but also pledging to boycott the company entirely.
Related: NexStar CEO Defends Decision to Pull ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ After Divisive Remarks
Nearly immediately after his suspension, Mr. Kimmel and his legal team began talks with Disney about getting the show back on the air. These discussions quickly took center stage as Sinclair demanded that Kimmel apologize to the Kirk family and donate to Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA, in order to be reinstated. The demands were met with further criticism, as many saw them as a form of corporate overreach in the entertainment world.
Within five days of the suspension, Disney issued a statement announcing that Kimmel would be reinstated. The company explained that it had initially suspended Kimmel’s show due to comments it deemed “ill-timed”, but the return wasn’t without its own set of complications.
Sinclair and Nexstar had been unyielding in their refusal to air the show on their networks, but by September 26, both companies backed down, easing their earlier demands.
Related: Disney Braces for Trump Administration’s Retribution After Kimmel’s Return
Disney faced further criticism from fans and even some of its own stars, including Marisa Tomei and Tatiana Maslany, who voiced their displeasure over Kimmel's suspension on social media. They encouraged their followers to cancel their Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions in protest.
According to The Handbasket‘s Marisa Kabas, Disney+ lost nearly 2 million subscribers in just five days following the suspension.
SCOOP / UPDATE — Disney saw more than 1.7 million total paid streaming cancelations during the period 9/17-9/23, a Disney source confirms to me. The total includes Disney+, Hulu and ESPN.
Ms. Kabas also confirmed that the primary reason Disney brought Mr. Kimmel back was its upcoming price increase for Disney+.
NEW — I wrote about my confirmed scoop from last night that Disney hastened Kimmel's return because of a planned Disney+ streaming price increase announcement coming on Tuesday
SCOOP / UPDATE — Disney saw more than 1.7 million total paid streaming cancelations during the period 9/17-9/23, a Disney source confirms to me. The total includes Disney+, Hulu and ESPN.
— Marisa Kabas (@marisakabas.bsky.social) 2025-09-29T17:19:55.663Z
On September 23, the same day that Jimmy Kimmel Live! returned to the airwaves, Disney made its price increase announcement. Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions, as well as bundles that included Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN, were set to rise, just as many fans were still grappling with the suspension controversy. The price hikes, scheduled to take effect shortly, added to the sense of dissatisfaction among subscribers who were already upset with the company’s handling of the situation.
When Kimmel returned to the air, he poked fun at the cancellations by reading a satirical ‘statement' from Disney that explained how viewers could resubscribe to Disney+. At this time, however, it's still unknown how many subscribers actually returned after his reinstatement.
Did you cancel your Disney+ subscription in response to Kimmel’s suspension, or are you still a loyal subscriber? How do you feel about the upcoming price hikes and Disney's handling of this controversy? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
