Disney Star Speaks Out, Tells Fans To Cancel Streaming Services After Kimmel Disaster
A Marvel headliner is now at the center of the growing fallout over Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension, urging audiences to drop their Disney subscriptions, even while starring in one of the company’s most divisive shows.
Why Has Jimmy Kimmel Been Cancelled?
ABC placed Jimmy Kimmel Live! on indefinite hold after a firestorm erupted over remarks the late-night host made about conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot in Utah last week during the kickoff of his “The American Comeback Tour.” Police later arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson in connection with the killing.
On his program earlier this week, Kimmel commented on how the tragedy was being framed by some political figures.
“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang trying to characterize this kid who killed Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said in his late-night show monologue.
Kimmel went on to discuss the White House’s response: “In between the finger-pointing, the White House flew the flag at half-staff, which got some criticism, but on a human level, you can see how hard the president was taking this.” He then pivoted to former president Donald Trump’s reaction, joking, “He’s at the fourth stage of grief: construction.”
The remarks sparked a quick backlash. Nexstar, which owns multiple ABC affiliates, dropped Jimmy Kimmel Live! “for the foreseeable future,” calling the comments “offensive and insensitive.” Sinclair stations followed suit.
The Federal Communications Commission also entered the debate. FCC Chair Brendan Carr blasted the monologue as misleading and cautioned that ABC could face federal repercussions if it failed to act. He praised Nexstar and Sinclair’s decisions, though critics countered that the situation highlights growing political pressure on media outlets and raises concerns over free speech.
As a result, Kimmel’s show is off the air, major affiliates are pulling it, Sinclair has slotted in a Charlie Kirk tribute, and the FCC has signaled possible licensing implications. Trump allies have hinted that other late-night shows could soon face similar scrutiny.
The World Reacts to Jimmy Kimmel’s Indefinite Removal
Several fellow hosts, including Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, and Jon Stewart, voiced support for Kimmel, with Colbert calling the suspension “blatant censorship.” Meanwhile, Trump suggested that Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers’ programs could face the same outcome.
Stars from the Marvel universe have also entered the conversation. Mark Ruffalo and Pedro Pascal both condemned ABC’s decision to shelve Kimmel’s show.
That solidarity took an even sharper turn when She-Hulk: Attorney at Law lead Tatiana Maslany urged fans to cancel subscriptions to Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN. Maslany, who headlines one of Marvel’s most talked-about streaming series, posted a behind-the-scenes image with the caption: “Cancel your Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN subscriptions!” while tagging the official accounts.
Maslany’s own series drew mixed reactions when it debuted on Disney+. While she won praise for her grounded and witty performance as Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk, critics often found the show’s tone uneven. The heavy reliance on CGI for She-Hulk’s transformations was cited as distracting, and some viewers argued the legal comedy elements were overshadowed by cameos from other Marvel characters.
Though Maslany was hailed as a highlight, the divided reception reflected Marvel’s ongoing efforts to experiment with its Disney+ lineup. With Maslany now openly calling for a boycott, the character’s future in the MCU remains uncertain.
Jimmy Kimmel Live! Replacement Confirmed
With Kimmel off the air, ABC quickly moved to fill the gap. Sinclair announced it will air a Charlie Kirk tribute special on Friday in the same slot across its ABC stations, also offering it to affiliates nationwide.
“Media conglomerate Sinclair will replace the Friday timeslot of Jimmy Kimmel Live! with a Charlie Kirk tribute special on its ABC affiliate stations–and is offering the special to all other ABC stations across the country,” Variety reported this week.
The outlet also added: “In addition, the company is demanding that Kimmel apologize to Kirk’s family and send ‘a meaningful personal donation’ to them as well as Turning Point USA, the organization Kirk founded that advocates for conservative politics in high schools and colleges. Sinclair, one of the U.S.’s large TV station owners, has long had a reputation for having a politically conservative tilt.”
Meanwhile, FCC Chairman Carr issued a stark warning, saying via CNN: “We can do this the easy way or the hard way; These companies can find ways to change conduct and take actions on Kimmel, or there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”
Sinclair vice chairman Jason Smith later responded to Carr’s comments. “We believe broadcasters have a responsibility to educate and elevate respectful, constructive dialogue in our communities,” Smith said, via Variety. “We appreciate FCC Chairman Carr’s remarks today, and this incident highlights the critical need for the FCC to take immediate regulatory action to address control held over local broadcasters by the big national networks.”
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