BREAKING: A coalition of Disney investors has urgently demanded board records to clarify the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” following government pressure. The show was pulled from the air on September 17, 2023, after Kimmel’s controversial monologue regarding the alleged killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
In a letter coordinated by the Democracy Defenders Fund, shareholder lawyers, including representatives from the American Federation of Teachers and Reporters Without Borders, are investigating whether Disney directors failed to fulfill their fiduciary duties by sidelining Kimmel’s show. The group is demanding financial analyses and board communications related to the suspension, threatening legal action if Disney does not comply within five business days.
The investors are also requesting copies of agreements with Nexstar and Sinclair, whose threats of blackouts preceded the suspension. Disney is likely to take these demands seriously, as the controversy has already impacted its stock, which slipped 3.3 percent during this tumultuous period, according to Business Insider.
Kimmel’s show was taken off the air amid backlash from MAGA supporters and pressure from Brendan Carr, the Trump-appointed chair of the FCC, who suggested that Kimmel’s comments could lead to regulatory repercussions for ABC. This stance has been met with criticism from civil liberties groups and raised questions among lawmakers. House Democrats have pressed Carr for clarity on his remarks regarding FCC actions if stations failed to act on Kimmel’s comments.
Despite the uproar, Kimmel returned to the airwaves with a record audience of 6.26 million viewers on Tuesday, even while Nexstar and Sinclair continued to preempt his show in major markets. This comeback episode saw Kimmel defending satire while addressing the sensitive nature of his comments. He stated, “it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man,” while also taking jabs at Trump’s own ratings.
The controversy has highlighted tensions between media programming and political pressures, with Kimmel’s suspension raising alarms about freedom of expression in entertainment. As the situation develops, all eyes are on Disney’s response to the investor demands and the potential legal actions that could follow.
Kimmel’s future remains uncertain as Nexstar has indicated it will not air his show for the “foreseeable future,” citing his comments regarding the killing of Kirk. Meanwhile, Disney has stated that the decision to bench Kimmel was made to “avoid further inflaming a tense situation” and described some of Kimmel’s remarks as “ill-timed and thus insensitive.”
The latest developments underscore the ongoing clash between entertainment and politics, raising concerns about the implications for media freedom and corporate governance. Watch for updates on how Disney navigates this complex situation and the potential legal ramifications of the shareholders’ demands.