Pressure mounts on Disney over Kimmel suspension as some boycott calls spread

Within 48 hours of its decision to pull late-night host Jimmy Kimmel off the air indefinitely, Disney has once again found itself at the center of a bitter political battle.

Disney is under siege from all sides.

Within 48 hours of its decision to pull late-night host Jimmy Kimmel off the air indefinitely, the parent company of ABC has once again found itself at the center of a bitter political battle. The company now faces protests outside its studios, celebrities threatening to break ties and political pressure from Republicans and Democrats.

Kimmel’s removal came Wednesday after he commented on Charlie Kirk’s killing. ABC’s decision has further amplified a free speech debate that began in the immediate aftermath of Kirk’s assassination, with some on the left claiming that people on the right were engaging in the “cancel culture” they once said they loathed. Others on the right sought to dub Kimmel’s removal as “consequence culture.”

A spokesperson for Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.

The blowback has been swift. Damon Lindelof, creator of ABC’s “Lost,” said in an Instagram post on Thursday that he would not work with the company if Kimmel’s suspension was not lifted. The Emmy-winning showrunner has a long-standing relationship with the studio, having worked with them on “Lost” for six seasons from 2004 to 2010.