Social Media Erupts: Calls to Boycott Disney Intensify Over Jimmy Kimmel's Suspension

Social media lights up with #BoycottDisney as fans and stars demand Jimmy Kimmel's return to ABC. From canceled subscriptions to Hollywood protests, the backlash grows. @Threads

Los Angeles, California – September 19, 2025 - The indefinite suspension of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" by ABC, a Disney-owned network, has ignited a fierce backlash on social media, with prominent Hollywood figures, unions, and everyday users rallying behind calls to boycott Disney properties. The move, prompted by Kimmel's controversial remarks about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, is being decried as censorship and a capitulation to political pressure, marking a rare bipartisan boycott effort against the entertainment giant.

Kimmel's Monday monologue speculated that the suspect in Kirk's September 10 shooting at Utah Valley University might have been a pro-Trump Republican, while mocking President Donald Trump's response to the tragedy as focusing on White House renovations.The comments drew swift condemnation from conservatives, including FCC Chair Brendan Carr, who urged broadcasters to pull the show and warned of potential investigations, fines, or license revocations for airing "distorted" content. Nexstar Media Group, ABC's largest affiliate owner reaching 39% of U.S. households, announced it would stop airing the program, citing public interest concerns. ABC followed suit Wednesday, preempting the episode with a rerun of "Celebrity Family Feud" and confirming the indefinite hiatus.

President Trump amplified the pressure from abroad during a diplomatic trip to Britain, posting on Truth Social that ABC "should have fired him a long time ago" due to Kimmel's "bad ratings" and calling for similar action against NBC's Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers.Disney CEO Robert Iger and television head Dana Walden, after reviewing Kimmel's planned Wednesday monologue—which addressed the controversy head-on—opted to pull the plug amid advertiser unease and employee threats.

The fallout has unified unlikely allies in a boycott push. Hashtags #BoycottDisney, #BoycottABC, and #CancelDisneyPlus surged to the top trends on X Thursday, amassing millions of impressions.Political commentator Brian Krassenstein declared a "BOYCOTT ALERT!" on X, accusing Disney of caving to political reasons, while columnist Wajahat Ali urged a collective work stoppage: "Every major talent that works for ABC and Disney should refuse to show up for work until Jimmy Kimmel is reinstated. Marvel movies need to shutdown. Ditto the sitcoms."

Hollywood heavyweights echoed the sentiment. "Lost" co-creator Damon Lindelof pledged not to work with Disney until Kimmel's reinstatement, a stance reportedly shared by other unnamed talent.Comedian Marc Maron called it a "deciding moment" for free speech on Instagram, warning of authoritarianism. Actor Josh Gad blasted Disney on Threads: "this ain't it." MSNBC's Chris Hayes labeled it "the most straightforward attack on free speech from state actors I’ve ever seen," and former CNN host Don Lemon warned it should "send a chill down everyone's spine." Even former President Barack Obama weighed in, stating the Trump administration has "taken it to a new and dangerous level" by threatening media outlets.

Major unions, including the Writers Guild and Actors Guild, have voiced support for protests and boycotts, with demonstrations already underway outside Disney's El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, organized by groups like Refuse Fascism. On Reddit's r/entertainment forum, users reported canceling Disney+ subscriptions en masse, with one thread garnering over 4,700 upvotes and comments like "Just cancelled my Disney+ subscription" and calls for actors to boycott working with the company. One user quipped, "People shouldn’t have boycotted the voting booth in 2024 yet 90 million people... failed to vote," highlighting broader frustrations.

Ironically, conservatives—who have long criticized Disney for "woke" content—are now praising the suspension, with some users on X hailing it as a victory while others grapple with the boycott overlap. One post noted, "Thanks to Kimmel Firing, the Left is Joining the Right to Boycott Disney." Disney shares dipped 1.2% in after-hours trading Thursday, with analysts warning of further pressure if advertisers pull back.

Kimmel, who left the El Capitan Theatre Wednesday without comment, is reportedly meeting with Disney executives tonight to discuss the show's future.This comes after CBS canceled "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" in July, making Kimmel the second late-night host sidelined in recent months. As protests swell and cancellations mount, the saga underscores deepening culture war fault lines, with free speech advocates on both sides decrying the precedent. For Disney, navigating this storm could redefine its role in an increasingly polarized media landscape.