Ex-Disney Boss Bob Iger Discloses ‘Real Reason’ Jimmy Kimmel Was Suspended

Disney’s former CEO is weighing in on the decision to briefly pull Jimmy Kimmel Live! from the air last year.

Back in September 2025, Jimmy Kimmel faced backlash over comments he made about the death of controversial conservative activist Charlie Kirk. As a result, the late-night show was suspended by Disney for nearly a week. Following the show’s return, several ABC affiliates owned by Nexstar and Sinclair continued to preempt the series. (Disney is the parent company of ABC.)

At the time, many fans viewed the decision as an attack on free speech by President Donald Trump‘s administration and the FCC, which is run by Trump appointee Brendan Carr. In a new interview with the Financial Times, however, former Disney CEO Bob Iger set the record straight on the reason for Kimmel’s suspension.

Iger clarified that the decision was not politically motivated. “That was not the case,” he told the outlet, adding, “We thought it was in bad taste.”

Referring to Kimmel’s on-air apology, Iger continued, “We just wanted him to acknowledge that it was an ill-timed and probably inappropriate comment.”

Jimmy Kimmel Live! YouTube

Jimmy Kimmel Live! has continued to face backlash from the Trump administration for comments made by Kimmel. Most recently, Kimmel poked fun at the president’s health in April by stating that first lady Melania Trump has “the glow of an expectant widow.” The comment prompted many upset viewers, and Trump himself, to call for ABC to fire Kimmel. Two days after the joke, a shooter opened fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

Kimmel defended the joke during the show’s April 27 episode, stating his comments were “obviously a joke about their age difference and the look of joy we see on her face every time they’re together. It was a very light roast joke about the fact that he’s almost 80 and she’s younger than I am.”

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He continued, “It was not by any stretch of the definition a call to assassination, and they know that I’ve been very vocal for many years, speaking out against gun violence in particular.”

Disney did not penalize Kimmel for the comments, and instead has held firm as the FCC has ordered ABC to file early license renewals for eight local TV stations, which were not set to be renewed until as early as 2028. Per Variety, New York’s WABC-TV called the order “unlawful, arbitrary and unconstitutional.”

Iger — who served as Disney’s CEO from 2005 to 2020 and from 2022 to March of this year — told the Financial Times that he “wholeheartedly” agrees with ABC’s stance on the matter. “I’m thoroughly supportive,” he stated. “It’s what we anticipated to do if the government’s threats turned into action.”

Bob Chapek took over as Disney’s CEO after Iger stepped down in 2020. Following his second exit earlier this year, Josh D’Amaro took over the role.

Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Weeknights, 11:35/10:35c, ABC