Disney has just confirmed the Jimmy Kimmel Live! will officially return on ABC on Tuesday, after nearly a week of suspension due to the male MC’s controversial statements.

Jimmy Kimmel’s firing has sparked a strong wave of protests from both the public and the American entertainment industry – Photo: Disney

Earlier, on September 17, ABC abruptly stopped producing the show just days after Jimmy Kimmel linked the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk to President Donald Trump’s MAGA movement.

Jimmy Kimmel’s show banned sparks controversy over free speech across the U.S.

Disney explained at the time that the decision was to avoid “adding fuel to the fire in the context of social tensions.”

In a statement on September 22, Disney said it had discussions with Jimmy Kimmel before coming to the final option.

CEO Bob Iger and co-president of entertainment Dana Walden directly participated in the discussion and finalized the plan to bring the show back, and Jimmy Kimmel is expected to speak out about the incident in the broadcast episode recorded on Tuesday night.

Parties threaten to cut ABC if they still work with Jimmy Kimmel

However, the turbulence has not ended. Major television corporations such as Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group, which owns hundreds of local stations affiliated with ABC, announced they would not broadcast Jimmy Kimmel.

Sinclair even confirmed that it will replace it with another news until there is a clear commitment to professionalism and responsibility from Disney.

Currently, Disney’s decision is still facing opposition from many parties, especially right-wing TV stations and entertainment companies – Photo: Reuters

The incident quickly moved beyond the scope of entertainment, becoming a political issue. The chairman of the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Brendan Carr, warned that ABC’s broadcast license could be revisited if Jimmy Kimmel is allowed to re-export.

President Donald Trump has also repeatedly attacked ABC and NBC, hinting that the government could take away the right to broadcast stations that oppose him.

This development is reminiscent of CBS’s cancellation of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in July, raising concerns about free speech in the context of divided American politics.

Jimmy Kimmel has a very good relationship with many top entertainment stars, this is the reason many people voiced their support for him when Disney made the decision to suspend the show – Photo: IGNV

Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner criticized the FCC for “threatening” ABC, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and more than 400 artists signed a joint letter of protest, calling it a “dark moment for American free speech.”

The firing of Jimmy Kimmel has also caused a backlash in the entertainment world and American politics.

Many famous stars such as Mark Ruffalo, Pedro Pascal, Olivia Rodrigo and Tatiana Maslany simultaneously spoke out in defense of Jimmy Kimmel, calling the suspension of the broadcast “blatant censorship.”

Mark Ruffalo even warned Disney stock would plunge if the show was canceled permanently. Many other entertainment faces such as Tatiana Maslany, Damon Lindelof, Dan Gilroy also announced a boycott or stop cooperating with Disney if this situation continues.

Veteran comedians such as Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien and David Letterman have also openly criticized ABC.

Letterman called it “a ridiculous decision,” while Conan O’Brien said the incident was a wake-up call for free speech in the current U.S. political landscape.

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