The news that Jimmy Kimmel will return to the air has been strongly opposed.

Disney has confirmed that Jimmy Kimmel Live! will officially return to ABC on Tuesday, after nearly a week of suspension due to the host’s controversial comments.

Jimmy Kimmel’s firing has sparked strong protests from both the public and the American entertainment industry – Photo: Disney

Previously, on September 17, ABC suddenly stopped production of the program just days after Jimmy Kimmel linked the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk to President Donald Trump’s MAGA movement.

Disney explained at the time that the decision was to avoid “adding fuel to the fire in a tense social context”.

In a statement on September 22, Disney said it had had discussions with Jimmy Kimmel before coming to a final plan. 

CEO Bob Iger and entertainment co-president Dana Walden were directly involved in discussions and finalized plans to bring the show back, and Jimmy Kimmel is expected to speak out about the incident during the broadcast taped on Tuesday night.

Parties threaten to cut ABC off the airwaves if it continues working with Jimmy Kimmel

But the storm isn’t over yet. Major television conglomerates like Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group, which own hundreds of local stations affiliated with ABC, have announced they will not air Jimmy Kimmel. 

Sinclair even affirmed that it would replace the news with another newscast until there was a clear commitment to professionalism and responsibility from Disney.

Currently, Disney’s decision is still facing opposition from many parties, especially right-wing television stations and entertainment companies – Photo: Reuters

The issue quickly went beyond entertainment and became political. The chairman of the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Brendan Carr, warned that ABC’s broadcasting license could be reconsidered if Jimmy Kimmel was allowed to return. 

President Donald Trump has also repeatedly attacked ABC and NBC, hinting that the government could strip stations of their broadcasting rights that oppose him.

The development recalls CBS’s cancellation of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in July, raising concerns about free speech amid a divisive US political climate.

Jimmy Kimmel has a very good relationship with many top entertainment stars, this is the reason why many people spoke up to support him when Disney decided to suspend the program – Photo: IGNV

Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner criticized the FCC for “threatening” ABC, while the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and more than 400 artists signed a joint letter protesting, calling this “a dark moment for American free speech.”

Jimmy Kimmel’s firing has also caused a backlash in the American entertainment and political world. 

Many famous stars such as Mark Ruffalo, Pedro Pascal , Olivia Rodrigo and Tatiana Maslany simultaneously spoke up to defend Jimmy Kimmel, considering the suspension of the broadcast as “blatant censorship”. 

Mark Ruffalo even warned that Disney’s stock would plummet if the show was permanently canceled. Many other entertainment faces such as Tatiana Maslany, Damon Lindelof, Dan Gilroy also announced boycotts or stopped cooperating with Disney if this situation continues.

In addition, veteran comedians such as Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien and David Letterman also publicly criticized ABC. 

Letterman called it “a ridiculous decision,” while Conan O’Brien said the incident was a wake-up call for free speech in the current American political climate.