Agency News
'Why buy a network that even Dentsu couldn’t fix?': Inside the gamble of Dentsu's international arm sale
From Ratings to Politics: The battle over Jimmy Kimmel Live!’s future
Disney is in talks with Jimmy Kimmel after suspending Jimmy Kimmel Live! over his comments on Charlie Kirk’s killing. The move, welcomed by Trump, has sparked a wider debate on free speech, political pressure, and corporate responsibility.
Disney abruptly pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! this week following the host’s remarks on conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was killed in a Utah shooting.
Walt Disney Co. executives are set to meet suspended talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel on Thursday to explore whether his late-night program, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, can return to air, Bloomberg reported. The discussions come amid a growing national debate over free speech, corporate responsibility and political pressure in broadcast media.
Disney abruptly pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! this week following the host’s remarks on conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was killed in a Utah shooting. Kimmel called the incident a “senseless murder” but criticized former President Donald Trump and right-wing groups for politicizing the tragedy. His comments, which also described Trump’s grieving style as akin to a “4-year-old mourning a goldfish,” triggered outrage among Kirk’s supporters and drew scrutiny from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and local station affiliates.
The suspension has put Disney at the center of a storm that reaches beyond entertainment, touching on partisan divides and the limits of commentary on prime-time television. Trump applauded ABC’s move, claiming Kimmel had been “fired for bad ratings” and lacked talent. He went further, threatening to revoke Disney’s broadcast license while his FCC chairman, Brendan Carr, echoed the criticism.
Meanwhile, free speech advocates argue Disney’s action sets a troubling precedent. Kimmel, who has hosted the late-night show since 2003, maintains that his remarks were aimed at exposing hypocrisy in how political leaders have responded to the killing.
Thursday’s meeting between Kimmel and Disney executives is expected to weigh whether the show can resume in some form without further inflaming the controversy.
SPOTLIGHT
According to LinkedIn’s research with over 1,700 B2B tech buyers, video storytelling has emerged as the most trusted, engaging, and effective format for B2B marketers. But what’s driving this shift towards video in B2B? (Image Source: Unsplash)
Read MoreExplained: Standing Committee’s draft report on India’s fight against Fake News
India’s parliamentary panel warns fake news threatens democracy, markets and media credibility, urging stronger regulation, fact-checking, AI oversight and global cooperation.