Disney CEO says Jimmy Kimmel was suspended due to ‘bad taste’

Former CEO of Disney bob iger denied him jimmy kimmel Was Suspended from his ABC late night show To prove the network’s loyalty to the President last year donald trump.

“That was not the case,” Iger, 75, said. financial Times In an interview published on Saturday, June 20. “We thought (Kimmel’s joke) was bad.”

Iger noted that Kimmel’s suspension lasted less than a week, adding, “We wanted him to acknowledge that this was a ill-timed and perhaps inappropriate comment.”

(Iger resigned as Disney CEO in March, handing the role over to a successor Josh D’Amaro.)

Last time there was controversy over discussing the murder of 58-year-old Kimmel. charlie kirk While the conservative activist speaks on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 10, 2025.

(tyler james robinson Was later alleged aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm and a violent crime in the presence of a child, as well as two counts of obstruction of justice and witness tampering. Robinson, 22, has not yet entered a plea.)

during his Jimmy Kimmel Live! Kimmel’s monologue on September 15, 2025, sparked controversy while discussing the political fallout of Kirk’s death at the age of 31.

Kimmel said, “Some new lows have been reached this weekend by the MAGA gang who are desperately trying to portray this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as doing everything they can to score political points.” “In the midst of the finger-pointing, there was mourning.”

Kimmel then showed footage of Trump, 80, discussing his White House construction plans following Kirk’s death.

Kimmel joked, “She’s in the fourth stage of grief, creation.” “It’s destruction, it’s construction.”

Jimmy Kimmel Live! The host continued, “It’s not the way an adult mourns the murder of someone he calls his friend. It’s the way a 4-year-old child mourns a goldfish.”

Days after the jokes originally aired, several conservative groups called for a boycott of ABC and several station owners, including Nexstar Media and Sinclair, vowed not to air the jokes. Jimmy Kimmel Live! Until he apologized publicly. ABC finally confirmed us weekly On September 17, 2025, that the comedy show would be “indefinitely pre-empted”.

Kimmel was off the air for a total of six days before ABC restored it. Jimmy Kimmel Live! in its weekend lineup on September 22, 2025.

“Last Wednesday we decided to suspend production of the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country,” the company statement said. We Reading. “This is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and therefore insensitive. We have spent the last day having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show to Tuesday.”

Kimmel told the audience In his return monologue, “I’ve been hearing a lot about what I need to do and say tonight, and the truth is I don’t think what I have to say is going to make much of a difference.”

“If you like me, you like me, if you don’t, I have no illusions about changing anyone’s mind, but I want to make something clear because it’s important to me as a human being: It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. I don’t think there’s anything funny about it,” Kimmel explained.

ultimately abc Kimmel signs one-year contract extension in December 2025, despite repeated demands by Trump to fire him from the network.

Recently, Kimmel has continued to feud with Trump since his return on-air. Choosing the President’s Long-Term Enmity Rosie O’Donnell for guest host Jimmy Kimmel Live! During your summer holidays.

“As a special gift to our Commander-in-Chief, I asked one of his all-time favorites, Rosie O’Donnell, to be here to continue the hits. So, you’re welcome,” he told the audience on Thursday, June 18. “All I want in return, Mr. President, is for you not to do anything stupid after I’m gone!”

Jimmy Kimmel Live! Each airing on ABC weeknights at 11:35 pm ET.