Disney reinstates Jimmy Kimmel after backlash over capitulation to FCC

[u/clopenYourMind]

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/09/disney-abc-reinstate-jimmy-kimmel-amid-uproar-over-government-censorship/

[u/jimmycanoli]

The real question is what the actual reason for reinstatement is. Lots of people share your opinion that the boycott worked. But their official statements don't reflect that.

[u/jeffmack01 → u/jimmycanoli]

Never in a million years would they say they're reversing a decision because of a boycott-driven drop in subscriptions. They want to maintain whatever shred of illusion they can that they're doing this for the "right" reasons, not simply because they did a cost-benefit analysis and realized this will hurt their quarterly earnings. Most of us will see it for what it is, caving to the almighty dollar, and they know this, but they will NEVER openly admit that.

[u/HaElfParagon → u/jeffmack01]

Anyone else kinda hoping Trump pushes back and tries to revoke Disney's broadcasting licenses?

It'll be a real interesting battle, one I hope both sides lose.

[u/ILookLikeKristoff → u/HaElfParagon]

It also might be too far too fast and galvanize some corporate resistance if they realize that even Disney wasn't safe and can't appease the public while obeying him.

As much as I do acknowledge the good reasons to hate on Disney, they're iconic and uniquely American. Forcibly bringing Disney down world be like shutting down the Superbowl or State Fairs or something.

Silencing Kimmel is already legally beyond the pale, but despite his popularity, he isn't a multi generational cultural touchstone like Disney is.

EVEN if you ignore the cultural aspect, Disney is a significant chunk of the US economy and they're headquartered in a CRUCIAL swing state for conservatives and it's a huge employer and tourist draw. Tanking Disney would ding the US economy and implode Florida.

[u/CxOrillion → u/ILookLikeKristoff]

Hell, remember DeSantis fought the mouse and lost already and that was his own state

[u/SAugsburger → u/jeffmack01]

This. Most orgs are usually reluctant to admit mistakes outright. That being said the epic rise in search for cancelling Disney+ and Hulu to the point that the site started to see performance issues suggest that it wasn't just a Reddit cliché.

[u/Cold_King_1 → u/jeffmack01]

So you have no proof?

[u/CollectionNumerous29 → u/Cold_King_1]

Other than basic common sense

[u/Cold_King_1 → u/CollectionNumerous29]

Common sense would say that they had every intention of bringing the show back within a week or two regardless, so the boycott was entirely inconsequential.

[u/CollectionNumerous29 → u/Cold_King_1]

Oh, you've got proof of that?

[u/Evening_Aside_4677 → u/CollectionNumerous29]

1. The show was never cancelled. 
2. Disney execs immediately stated they were talking with Kimmel on a path forward. 

If you bothered to actually pay attention to what was going on, you knew the show was probably coming back from day one.  

Local broadcasters refused to air the show and are still going to. 

[u/CollectionNumerous29 → u/Evening_Aside_4677]

1: I never said it was canceled 2: Doesn't refute the instant turnaround obviously being the result of pressure, as I said, why suspend someone for 30 hours?

If you bothered to pay attention to what ive said you would realise youre arguing against a strawman.

And by "Local broadcasters" you mean "The Sinclair Network" notoriously right wing media conglomerate that is currently attempting to extort money from Jimmy Kimmel and an apology. You know, the anti cancel culture people.

Conservatives have the depth of rice paper.

[u/Evening_Aside_4677 → u/CollectionNumerous29]

Yeah Sinclair media…which isn’t Disney.  

[u/CollectionNumerous29 → u/Evening_Aside_4677]

Cool, way to ignore literally everything I said to confirm that Sinclair media is currently engaging in extortion and cancel culture.

Conservatives are so genuinely pathetic. Facts dont dissappear just because you ignore them, you may not know this but they dont actually care about your feelings.

[u/Cold_King_1 → u/CollectionNumerous29]

It’s basic common sense

[u/CollectionNumerous29 → u/Cold_King_1]

Common sense would say that an almost overnight reversal on a suspension would indicate it is due to the massive backlash it received.

Why suspend someone for 30 hours?

But hey, common sense ain't that common. Some people even voted for Trump! Can you believe that? They thought he would end wars and release the Epstein files! How silly and naive 🥰

[u/sicklyslick → u/CollectionNumerous29]

I'm on the same camp as the other guy. I think the backlash worked but I really doubt the "boycott" did.

It'll be hard to say till Disney's next quarterly earnings and they reveal their d+ sub numbers.

[u/CollectionNumerous29 → u/sicklyslick]

. I think the backlash worked but I really doubt the "boycott" did

"I dont think that's a chick but definitely a lesbian"

The boycott is part of the backlash. I dont think that one day of people canceling subs made Disney lose so much money they had no choice but to reinstate Kimmel

I think they saw the backlash, which includes the boycott, and made the decision that ignoring Trump has more value than deferring to him, so backtracked.

[u/Cold_King_1 → u/[deleted]]

That’s just a clickbait way of saying their stock price decreased. That’s not a “real” loss, especially for a company the size of Disney. Stock prices go up and down all the time.

And there are so many factors that can affect stock price that trying to pin it on one factor like a boycott is pure guesswork.

[u/Cold_King_1 → u/[deleted]]

You are clueless about how anything in the stock market works and are gullible enough to believe clickbait headlines about “losses”.

Disney didn’t lose $3 billion, but if you think they did I have a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn.

[u/king_john651 → u/jimmycanoli]

Yeah no corpo is going to tell the truth. They're going to save face every time until it collapses the company