Walt Disney Executives To Meet With Jimmy Kimmel, Assess Talk Show Future, Bloomberg News Reports [View all]

Source: Huff Post/Reuters

Sep 18, 2025, 08:11 PM EDT | Updated 8 hours ago


Sept 18 (Reuters) - Walt Disney DIS.0 representatives and talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel raced to find the right words on Wednesday to calm a social media furor that erupted following criticism of his remarks about slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Kimmel’s comments in his monologue on Monday had angered many, and the reaction reached a fever pitch on Wednesday, including death threats that raised concerns for the safety of Kimmel and his staff, the source said. The late-night host prepared to make a statement, but Kimmel and Disney representatives could not find language that they agreed would not further inflame the situation, the source said.

As the show’s 4:30 p.m. taping time approached, Disney CEO Bob Iger and Disney Entertainment co-Chairman Dana Walden agreed that the best approach would be to take the show off the air and later find a way to bring Kimmel back, the source said. Walden informed Kimmel of the decision.

A representative for Kimmel did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment. Executives will meet with Kimmel to discuss the future of his program, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing three people with knowledge of the matter.

Read more: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/walt-disney-executives-to-meet-with-jimmy-kimmel-assess-talk-show-future-bloomberg-news-reports_n_68cc9cb9e4b0afb4eb4cc601