MAGA supporters and conservative influencers are slamming Disney’s decision to bring Jimmy Kimmel Live! back on air after last week’s controversy.
The late-night show is set to return to its usual time slot on Tuesday. It had been suspended “indefinitely” following remarks Kimmel made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
A Disney spokesperson explained the move in a statement. “Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country,” they said. “Some of the comments made were ill-timed and came across as insensitive.”
The company said it has spent the last several days in discussions with Kimmel. “After having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, we’ve decided the show will resume on Tuesday,” the spokesperson added.
However, many conservative voices aren’t satisfied with that explanation. For them, the private talks with Kimmel don’t make up for what was said.
Disney and ABC caving and allowing Kimmell back on the air is not surprising, but it’s their mistake to make.
Nextstar and Sinclair do not have to make the same choice.
— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) September 22, 2025
Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of The Charlie Kirk Show, weighed in on X, criticizing Disney and ABC for putting Jimmy Kimmel back on the air. “Disney and ABC caving and allowing Kimmel back on the air is not surprising, but it’s their mistake to make,” he wrote. He also pointed out that other companies like Nexstar and Sinclair don’t have to follow the same path.
Kolvet was likely referring to Nexstar, which owns more ABC affiliate stations than any other company in the country. Both Nexstar and Sinclair played a key role in last week’s suspension by warning they would not air the show if it continued.
Meanwhile, conservative commentator Auron MacIntyre urged his 230,000+ followers on X to launch a pressure campaign against ABC, Disney, and their sponsors.
“All hands on deck patriots,” he wrote. MacIntyre accused ABC of putting Kimmel back on air after some affiliates were allegedly threatened with terrorist attacks. “ABC wants America to know that terrorism will be rewarded. This cannot stand,” he said, encouraging followers to flood inboxes with calls, emails, and social media messages.
He followed up by sharing contact information for top ABC and Disney executives, along with major advertisers like PetSmart, Target, Dairy Queen, and Mercedes-Benz.
Others joined the backlash as well. An anonymous X account called “MAGA Voice,” with over 1.3 million followers, posted, “Disney ABC let the WOKE Mob get to them and decided to bring back Jimmy Kimmel. TIME TO BOYCOTT DISNEY.”
BREAKING 🚨 Disney ABC let the WOKE Mob get to them and decided to bring back Jimmy Kimmel
TIME TO BOYCOTT DISNEY pic.twitter.com/8mJb40ABxH
— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) September 22, 2025
The call from the right to boycott Disney marks a sharp turnaround for both the MAGA movement and the company itself. Just days ago, it was liberals who were urging a boycott. That changed when Disney announced it would bring Jimmy Kimmel back on air.
Before the reversal, Disney was under heavy fire from the left. On Monday morning, radio host Howard Stern told his listeners he had canceled his Disney+ subscription in protest of the company’s decision to suspend Kimmel.
Stern wasn’t alone. Many were frustrated with Disney CEO Bob Iger for pulling the late-night show. That pressure came to a head after just one day.
More than 400 celebrities, including Tom Hanks, Jennifer Aniston, and Meryl Streep, signed a letter criticizing ABC’s decision to take Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air. On Sunday night, stars like Jewel, Sarah McLachlan, and Olivia Rodrigo skipped a Hulu red carpet event in protest.
But once Disney announced Kimmel’s return, the backlash shifted. This time, it came from the MAGA side of the aisle.
Megyn Kelly joined the wave of conservative voices speaking out. “Must be nice to be a leftist,” she posted. “’Cancellation’ lasts 5 nights and you’re right back under klieg lights. On the right you’re underground.”
Must be nice to be a leftist. “Cancellation” lasts 5 nights and you’re right back under klieg lights.
On the right you’re underground.— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) September 22, 2025
Kimmel’s show was put on pause for like 3 days and yet leftists will look us dead in the eyes and tell us that this was a greater attack on free speech than shooting and killing Charlie Kirk https://t.co/vJKNxp27bq
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) September 22, 2025
Conservative commentator and podcast host Matt Walsh also joined the criticism. He argued that the response to Jimmy Kimmel’s brief suspension was blown out of proportion by the left. “Kimmel’s show was put on pause for like 3 days,” he wrote, “and yet leftists will look us dead in the eyes and tell us that this was a greater attack on free speech than shooting and killing Charlie Kirk.”
Fox News contributor Clay Travis took a more strategic angle. He suggested that the Trump administration should use regulatory pressure against Disney, especially in relation to its upcoming deal with the NFL.
Under the proposed agreement, Disney would acquire a 10 percent stake in ESPN, while the NFL Network would be folded into the ESPN brand. That deal still requires approval from federal regulators.
Travis argued that this approval process should be used to push for changes in how Disney operates, particularly when it comes to shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live! and broader ABC programming.
“I think there should be actual changes in the way this show is airing,” Travis said during a segment with Fox News anchor Will Cain. “The Trump administration needs to look closely at that NFL acquisition and ask whether Disney and ABC are really trying to represent all Americans. If they can’t show that on a late-night program, will they be able to do it with sports?”
The decision to bring Jimmy Kimmel back on air came amid a heated debate about free speech and intense criticism from the Trump administration toward Kimmel and ABC.
Just hours before Kimmel was suspended, Brendan Carr, the Trump-appointed chair of the Federal Communications Commission, accused Kimmel of deliberately pushing a narrative. Carr claimed Kimmel was suggesting that Tyler Robinson, the alleged assassin of Charlie Kirk, was motivated by MAGA or Republican beliefs. Carr openly warned that action could be taken against the broadcaster.
“We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr said. “These companies can change their behavior and take action against Kimmel, or the FCC will have more work to do.” Later that week, Carr also hinted at investigating The View, another show often criticized by the Trump administration.
However, Kimmel’s comments from his monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live! last Monday did not explicitly label Robinson as MAGA or Republican.
Jimmy Kimmel said, “We reached a new low over the weekend. The MAGA crowd was desperate to portray the young man who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of their own. They did everything they could to use the tragedy for political gain,” according to a report by The Daily Beast.
Sweet sweet maga tears! It’s the ambrosia of life in these trying times.
But for real, Brian Kilmeade literally called for killing the homeless and he doesn’t even get a slap on the wrist? Kimmel made a factually true statement and maga gets triggered. Maga has no eyes or ears.
Amen.
The power Capitalism, they lost just over 3 billion dollars, Id say people spoke with their money, and for that, absolutely, this is a win
What did MAGA say about feelings? Anyone remember?
I guess Donnie T has never said anything offensive in his life…Right??
Unless you count “grab em by the pussy” as everyday speech!
CRY MAGATS CRY! Love that you are all so butt hurt. BWAHAHAHAHAHA!
CRY MAGATS CRY! love it