Insiders Spill Chilling Reason Kimmel's Bosses Caved to MAGA

[Jilly_in_VA]

Senior TV executives initially supported Jimmy Kimmel in the hours before they switched course and made the shock decision to pull his show.

More details are emerging about the moments leading up to ABC’s decision to “indefinitely” cut Jimmy Kimmel Live!, including last-minute meetings where executives were reportedly “p---ing themselves,” according to Rolling Stone. The report quotes two sources familiar with the tense hours before the decision.

They said senior executives from ABC, its parent company Disney, and national network affiliates had held damage control meetings after the MAGA reaction to Monday’s show.

In those meetings, multiple executives backed Kimmel before ABC ultimately decided to cut the late-night host’s show, sources said, adding senior executives ultimately feared retaliation from President Donald Trump.

The report says multiple executives felt Kimmel “had not actually said anything over the line.”

https://www.thedailybeast.com/insiders-spill-chilling-reason-jimmy-kimmels-tv-bosses-caved-to-maga/

Fucking WIMPS!

[Stuckinthebush]

1. Fascism.

I'm done with these networks and companies.

[Jilly_in_VA]

3. Me too

About the only ones I watch at all are CSPAN when there's a juicy hearing or ESPN when there's sports of interest, and I'm selective about those, preferring rugby, soccer, track and field, and women's basketball, although I do watch ice skating and the Olympics.

[Stuckinthebush]

5. I've decided to cancel

Hulu, Disney, YouTubeTV, ESPN maybe. I don't want to watch anything from the local stations.

I'm in a massive funk about the state of this nation. I've encouraged my mid 20s daughter to move out to Europe or Canada. We are spiraling here and there is nothing but rot for a long while.

[Mblaze]

25. I cancelled last night

It was difficult to do. The "cancel" button was nowhere to be found. I finally text-chatted with Romeo who helped me but first asked me why. I simply answered "Jimmy Kimmel". Immediately a statement appeared that said that Hulu/Disney execs didn't necessarily agree with the action but tense times - civil discourse - die down - parent company yada yada yada.

I finished the process and told Romeo that I hope he wasn't being watched. He thanked me for my concern.

I hate Stephen Miller's world. I hate the two South Africans who now have sway. I have taken leave from my Republican family. Thankfully, I live in a Liberal part of the country. I'm too old to expatriate, besides, I don't want to leave my friends and offspring holding the bag.

[Dixiegrrrl]

66. I had just added Hulu &,Disney subs to my line up a week ago.

Canceling before the sun goes down. Hope I get a chance to tell them why.

I am firm believer in not feeding fascists.

[Mblaze]

99. Good onya, mate!

[Captain Zero]

89. There are more than two South Africans.

nt

[Mblaze]

100. I was referencing Musk and Thiel as you probably know.

I'm not up on the complete list. 😀

[BonnieJW]

33. You Tube TV is Disney?

That's my main tv source. Can anyone recommend another similar streaming service?

[BonnieJW]

36. No, you tube tv is part of Google

[Stuckinthebush]

44. I'd love to know too

I won't hate losing it because I rarely use all of the channels.

[Dixiegrrrl]

67. Damn...they own National Geographic.

Just canceled Hulu and Disney plus. They have a drop down list of reasons for canceling.
Under "other" I wrote because of Jimmy Kimell.

So saved enuff to afford another streaming service if I want one.

[Jilly_in_VA]

72. I can't cancel ESPN

because my team's (JMU) basketball away games are there. But otherwise I don't watch very much.

[Magoo48]

74. Now you're talking. That's the best way to support entertainers losing their jobs.

[Stuckinthebush]

91. I'll send my 20 dollars to the Writers Guild

To support their protests

[Ocelot II]

2. More details from Rolling Stone:

https://archive.is/2Oyvi

[Deuxcents]

6. Grrrr🤬

[sop]

37. From the Rolling Stone article:

"Carr’s demand that licensed broadcasters refuse to air Kimmel’s show — and Nexstar’s quick compliance with this request — comes as the company prepares a corporate merger that will require FCC approval.
Nexstar is already America’s largest owner of TV stations — and its $6.2 billion merger with Tegna would allow them to get even larger."

[Ocelot II]

38. What a coinkydink.

[UTUSN]

62. Nexstar merger with media company Tegna ... will require FCC approval

From the OP's link:

"Nexstar, which already says it owns “America’s largest local television broadcasting group,” announced last month it had entered into a $6.2 billion merger with media company Tegna. The corporate merger will require approval from the FCC."

[Thunderbeast]

77. In Portland, NEXSTAR owns KOIN...the CBS affiliate. It is about to acquire KGW (NBC).

When the dust settles, SIX local stations will be operated by:

NEXSTAR KOIN (CBS), KGW (ABC), KRCW
SINCLAIR KATU (ABC)
GRAY MEDIA KPTV (FOX), KPDX

[calimary]

103. Making a note so I can find this later.

[newdeal2]

4. He did nothing wrong

Caving to people who want to be outraged over nothing is going to be the end of the media. Pretty soon the religious nuts will be demanding everything be censored.

[Wednesdays]

7. So far, they're not mentioning anything about it on The View

So far, it's not the lead story. The elephant in the room is not being talked about. At least they're leading off with the congressional grilling of Patel over Epstein.

On edit II: They did the entire hour of the show, and not one peep about Kimmel.

[BigmanPigman]

9. I don't recall Colbert mentioning it on his show either.

[Wednesdays]

11. To be fair,

Last edited Thu Sep 18, 2025, 12:43 PM - Edit history (1)

the news about Kimmel may very well have broken after Colbert taped last night's show. The real tell will come tonight.

On edit: this is confirmed.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220652881

[LastDemocratInSC]

42. That's correct. Late Show taping was prior to the Kimmel announcement.

[ReRe]

70. Alert!

Everyone needs to tune into Colbert tonight. I bet tonight's show will be his highest viewership ever!

[BigmanPigman]

71. OK, that makes sense. Thanks.

I read that The View didn't mention Kimmel and they are on in the mornings. I wonder if they are afraid.

[Crunchy Frog]

35. It happened at the very end of taping. I read someone who was there's description of it yesterday.

[Katinfl]

43. I read that Colbert took a call almost at the end of his show and then walked off the set.

I am sure he will say something about it tonight.

[murielm99]

12. I noticed that.

Usually the ladies are fearless.

[kacekwl]

26. I an done with them. There are

2 comedians on that show who said nothing. Joy said I think Monday that we're screwed and Whoppie said no we're not. Something about the people will do what they do blah blah. Not a peep today. More cowards.

[BigmanPigman]

8. After listening to Keith Olbermann on DU last night

it seems Jimmy's hands are tied. A pundit mentioned that Colbert should have filed a lawsuit. Now everyone else will be paranoid about the same issue, PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF tRump!!!

He is an evil, sick, vengeful sadist. When he finally realizes his health and poll numbers have declined permanently and his body clock is ticking he will destroy the remains on our democracy. I agree with James Carville on this one.

[Haggard Celine]

19. I agree with Carville, too.

Is there anything he won't do? He's capable of just about any evil thing you can think of. He's A fiddling Nero, the first AntiChrist.

[Danmel]

40. Carville also said Democrats should shut up

And trump would implode within a month, so there's that.

[louis-t]

94. You know what's funny?

Early 2017 I was in the parking lot at a condo one of my clients had just bought to flip. An old man with a black American Legion hat came out and decided I needed to know his opinion. "It's the best thing that ever happened to us!! Now, everyone will be afraid of him!!!" I don't think he meant corporate America or elected officials. I think he really thought the world would be afraid of him. The rest of the world thinks he's a joke.

[UpInArms]

10. Bad things happen

when good people do nothing …

I hate that they are not using the power of their microphones to tell what a fukking fascist TFG is

[Wednesdays]

14. What "power of the microphone" does Kimmel have now?

[UpInArms]

15. None

I was referring to any and all news programs … not a late night comedian show …

Although he was pretty much a lone voice at that network

[Wednesdays]

16. Indeed, anyone who now crosses TSF gets the chopping block. nt

[Justice matters.]

55. With $16 Million in severance, he could set up his own online show

with aid and support from saavy volonteers, if need be.

Why not?

[Wednesdays]

73. $16 million won't buy a show.

Except maybe a post-midnight gig on a local cable station.

[Justice matters.]

80. I'm not talking about effin teevee.

I'm talking about Internet diffusion, like the podcasters do, but with a studio and a small attendence will do. Yeah, seek to attract the same sponsors (for a reduce price to start with).

Television (unless hooked to the Internet) is going to end up in museums.

[Envirogal]

86. ABC already paid TSF $16 million

A lot of good that did them, huh?

Hopefully these media companies will see that capitulating isn’t going to satisfy a sadistic, narcissistic, dimension-laden fascist that aims to kill all dissent. How would they like to own media companies in fascist governments like Russia? If they don’t fight this now, that will be their fate.

[Justice matters.]

98. These ultra-rich executives don't care. I bet they voted for

tax cuts for the rich millionaires and billionaires themselves.

It's not their money, it's money from sponsors who charge their customers in their products' price tags.

At the point of sales, it's always the customers who paid for the million-dollars annual income.

[AStern]

13. I don't buy it - they are in on all of this!

nt

[quaint]

17. Not only did he say nothing wrong, how many MAGAts watch him?

[EnergizedLib]

18. Why didn't they lawyer up?

[Dave Bowman]

20. These people are pathetic greedy cowards.

[Hekate]

21. Cowards

[GusBob]

23. Killer distraction from the Epstein files huh? and a veiled threat?

Couldn't ask for anything better

Networks will be pissing themselves rather than we see them files

[Crunchy Frog]

51. Nah, the agenda isn't the Epstein files (it could be a secondary agenda), it's fascist rule and ending free speech.

[NoMoreRepugs]

24. The 4th Estate and SCOTUS along with some in academia have handed the country over to a convicted conman rapist.

[Buckeyeblue]

27. They panicked. There is not a scenario where ABC/ESPN/Disney gets shut down

First, there is too much money involved. And the first amendment. I think it would have been a slam dunk court case. Even in our current environment.

[Justice matters.]

85. The always-lying pedofelon doesn't care about what the courts say.

Corrupt crooked online troll does not care about what the Constitution says.

It should be past time everybody who pays close attention knows that.

And nobody who could do something does anything 'effective' to stop him.

The US is now officially the laughing stock of the rest of the free world.

[Initech]

28. In the last two years, MAGA have proven themselves to be the most thin-skinned crybabies in the world.

And they can all go get royally fucked. They are stomping on our free speech rights, and the fucking asshole is not only letting them get away with it, he's actively encouraging it.

[calimary]

49. This!

[Qutzupalotl]

53. It's almost like they're SNOWFLAKES

whose first instinct is CANCEL CULTURE, and everything they said about us is just projection.

Did I say almost? I meant EXACTLY.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

29. There are media companies involved with business deals up for review by the regime. . . . nt

[SSJVegeta]

30. Thats literally obeying in advance

Spineless cowards

[calimary]

50. This, TOO!!!

[Puppyjive]

31. They need to ignore Trump

Grows some balls. If you lose your job, find another one, but quit getting on your knees for the rat bastard. You have to stand up for principle. Sometimes when one door closes, another one opens up. RESIST.

[Clouds Passing]

32. dumpy has the smut on everybody.

Why do you think he won’t release the epps files? That’s his insurance policy.

[Loki]

34. Cowards

We have a white male, millionaire coward class in this country, and they are the problem.

[dixiegrrrrl]

39. How many here are still watching ABC.

Or Colbert's network after he leaves.
And especially CNN..,
????????????

[some_of_us_are_sane]

83. Well, DISNEY now owns ABC

and this country under Trump now advertises its OWNERSHIP of the media simply by bowing to whatever the megalomaniac Trump demands. We don't have a true democracy, we have "Corporatism"..

Benito Mussolini himself once said: “Fascism should be more appropriately called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power.”

[Joinfortmill]

88. Not me. Fuck 'em all!

[WmChris]

41. It starts

"It starts when you're always afraid , step out of line the man come and take you away. Paranoia strikes deep into your heart It will creep.

[calimary]

52. Yep.

https://m.

Back when we were young and uppity.

[Abolishinist]

87. OMG, Neil Young's sideburns!

And later, CSN&Y, one of my all-time faves.

Many decades ago, in a city far far away, I took guitar lessons sponsored by a music store. They had a guest teacher one day, Richie Furay. I mentioned this to a friend of mine at the office... she said that the married Furay tried to pick her up at a local bar. At the time, he was a pastor for a local church.

[Warpy]

45. Big merger coming up that needs approval at the highest levels

since it's obviously monopolistic, not that it matters any more.

I thought it was because ABC/Disney wanted to make sure King Censor would approve of their business deal, so they preemptively got rid of Kimmel, one of the biggest rocks in KC's golf shoes and a demonstration of future fealty.

I never thought it was about that mild but accurate zinger about grief intruding into finger pointing.

FWIW, Kinnel isn't going to miss any meals, he's going to take it on the road,literally or metaphorically. They're not going to silence him, only piss him off more.

As for late night TV with Kimml gone and Colbert going, the networks are going to have to start doing what they did in the 1950s, show movies.

[Deminpenn]

58. Or go off the air and broadcast a test pattern

from midnight to 4-5AM like they used to do.

[Warpy]

84. One station in NC in the mid-late 60s used to show soft core porno movies

after midnight, bigger money maker than the test pattern.

They're going to want a segue from the news to the informercials they show to insomniacs.

They still show those in the wee hours, right? I haven't watched TV in years.

[GoodRaisin]

46. The hypocrisy is deafening.

Last edited Thu Sep 18, 2025, 02:12 PM - Edit history (1)

I put msnbc on in the background today for about an hour before i just had to shut it off. They talked nearly the entire time about Kimmel/FCC etc. without one mention of KILMEADE who suggested murdering homeless people and still has his job. How can you talk about Kimmel being pulled without even mentioning the FCC has completely ignored Fox News and Kilmeade suggesting to murder people? It’s fucking unbelievable.

Fox can say whatever they want but everybody else has to tow Krasnov’s line or lose their shows/jobs. Somebody needs to be screaming Kilmeade to the sky right now. And daytime msnbc is unwatchable.

[Wiz Imp]

97. Not excusing MSNBC for failing to mention Kilmeade

But the FCC only regulates regular broadcast channels (the public airwaves - not cable). Cable channels like Fox News are not under their jurisdiction.

[mcar]

47. He said nothing out of line. Not one word

He was not criticizing Kirk, he was mocking Trump.

[Paladin]

48. Absolutely inexcusable. What a bunch of gutless wonders.

Nothing like going 110% chickenshit and encouraging the expansion of the police state. Unforgivable.

[NBachers]

54. But wait - I thought republicans were AGAINST cancer culture

[calimary]

56. Not if it's cancer of the conscience.

[NBachers]

63. Oh man - My failure of voice to phone text said cancer instead of cancel and I missed it.

[AdamGG]

90. Just roll with it and pretend it's a witticism n/t

[Deminpenn]

57. This is not much different than

what happened during the anti-communist hysteria of the late 1930s thru the early 1950s when media completely caved by blacklisting anyone even remotely thought to be a communist or to have associate with communists.

[vapor2]

59. Why is everyone afraid of trump? He puts on his pants the same way every billionaire does

[Bengus81]

60. TAKE A STAND NOW. Cancel ESPN, cancel HULU, cancel any Disney subscription. Don't go to Disneyland

Stop watching ANYTHING on ABC including ABC/ESPN Monday night football. My Chiefs play on MNF on 10/27, I'll read about the results the next day.

But...they'll claim that Dems won't do any of that so it's business as usual. Show those Trump bootlickers just how WRONG they are or this gets worse--MUCH worse.

[some_of_us_are_sane]

82. I like your moxie!

I SECOND THAT!

[underpants]

61. Affiliates have a tremendous amount of influence and say

There are 250 - 270 ABC affiliates. Nexstar owes 33 - Sinclair owns 26 (by my count)

Some of Sinclair’s ABC affiliates are split with NBC Fox My Network and CW. Several combinations.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_stations_owned_or_operated_by_Sinclair_Broadcast_Group

AI Overview
Nexstar currently operates approximately 33 ABC affiliate stations, according to reporting from September 2025. While the company has a total of over 200 owned or partner stations, its ABC affiliate count is specifically cited as 33.

There are around 250 to 270 ABC affiliated television stations in the United States, including eight owned-and-operated stations and nearly 236 privately-owned network affiliates.

[Iggo]

64. Was it money? I bet it was money. Was it money?

[SpankMe]

65. American soldiers have sacrificed their limbs and lives for free speech

One would hope that an entertainment company would sacrifice a business deal and a couple of affiliate stations for free speech - which is at the very core of their business.

[BurnDoubt]

68. In the End, they go where the money is.

Lawyers, Guns And Money.
Citizens' United was the poison pill that killed Democracy in the US.
The "Twa Corbies" will comment on the passing of a Great People as they pick our bones.
Poo Tee Weet.

[Just Jerome]

69. Warren Zevon?

Steeleye Span?

However this battle plays out, at least we shall have good songs!

[Volaris]

75. '...feared retaliation from donald trump...'

AUFKM?? These are the guys that are supposed to be buying ink by the barrel...where the fuck is their spine? Their collective decision should be that in a month, Donald will FEAR THEM.

[C_U_L8R]

76. Cowardice only attracts magats.

say goodbye to your beloved brands.

[spawnoflinthead]

78. Will NBC follow suit?

Will all of the networks cave? It’s disgusting.

[RainCaster]

79. They have no balls

That's quite pathetic when TSF has bigger cajones than the c-suite of ABC.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

81. So is the merger approval by the FCC

the "chilling reason"? Doesn't really seem all that chilling, more like SOP.

[Wiz Imp]

96. NO

[MorbidButterflyTat]

102. Oh.

Thanks for clarifying.

What's chilling then?

[mdbl]

92. They're greedy shitheads.

That's all.

[twodogsbarking]

93. It wasn't about Charlie K it was about Trump and his "grieving". Calling him a four year old. Laughing at his sorry ass.

[travelingthrulife]

95. Cowards. So Trump and his bully boys have them trembling in their gucci loafers

[SheltieLover]

101. Kick