Former Disney CEO Bob Iger has offered a new explanation for the controversial decision to temporarily pull Jimmy Kimmel off the air last year, pushing back against claims that the move was driven by political pressure. 
Speaking publicly about the incident for the first time in an interview with the Financial Times, Iger, 75, addressed the 2025 suspension of the late-night host. The decision came after Kimmel made remarks about the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, with reports indicating that Iger personally approved the suspension. 
Asked whether Disney acted to appease the Trump administration, Iger firmly rejected that interpretation.
“That was not the case,” he said. “We thought it was in bad taste. We simply wanted him to acknowledge that the comment was poorly timed and probably inappropriate.”
Despite that explanation, the move reportedly sparked significant backlash within Disney. According to reports, several employees believed the company had given in to political pressure from MAGA supporters. One insider described the decision as a “betrayal,” while another said they never expected Iger to handle the situation that way. 
Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner also weighed in at the time, without mentioning Iger by name.
“Where has all the leadership gone?” Eisner wrote on X. “If university presidents, law firm managing partners and corporate chief executives won’t stand up against bullies, who will defend the First Amendment?”
The controversy wasn’t the only time Disney found itself caught in the middle of the ongoing feud between Kimmel and President Donald Trump. 
Months later, Kimmel joked that First Lady Melania Trump had “a glow like an expectant widow,” just days before an alleged assassination attempt connected to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Following that incident, both President Trump and the First Lady again called for Kimmel to be fired.
Unlike the earlier controversy, Disney chose not to remove Kimmel from the air.
Looking back on that decision, Iger said he fully supported the company’s response.
“I’m thoroughly supportive,” he said. “It’s what we anticipated needing to do if the government’s threats turned into action.”
The original suspension followed Kimmel’s comments after Charlie Kirk, who was 31, was killed. ABC responded by taking Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air indefinitely.
Only days later, Kimmel returned to late-night television to a standing ovation from the audience and delivered an emotional monologue addressing the controversy.
“I want to make something clear because it’s important to me as a human being,” Kimmel said, visibly emotional. “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man.”
He continued by explaining that he had posted a message on Instagram expressing sympathy for Kirk’s family on the day of his death.
“I don’t think there’s anything funny about it. I sent love to his family and asked for compassion—and I meant it. I still do.”
Despite repeated criticism and renewed calls for his dismissal, Kimmel has continued to criticize President Trump during his broadcasts.
Responding directly on air, the Emmy-winning host remarked, “If incompetently presiding over some of the lowest ratings in history is the reason I should be fired, then we should both be out of a job, because you’re not doing too good either.”
Iger’s comments arrive only months after he stepped down as Disney CEO, handing leadership to Josh D’Amaro earlier this year. Iger served as the company’s chief executive from 2005 to 2020 before returning for a second term from 2022 until his departure in 2026.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/
