cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/36374796
The abrupt programming decision quickly morphed into a flashpoint for free speech in America under the Trump administration.
By John Koblin, Brooks Barnes, Benjamin Mullin and Michael M. Grynbaum
Sept. 18, 2025Mr. Iger, Disney’s chief executive, and Dana Walden, his head of television, were also hearing from skittish advertisers and employees who had begun to receive threatening messages. When the team reviewed Mr. Kimmel’s planned remarks, they grew concerned that his monologue would only inflame the situation further.
So they made the call: “Jimmy Kimmel Live” would temporarily go dark.
That decision — the product of a spider’s web of interlocking political and financial pressures placed atop one of the country’s biggest corporations — quickly morphed into a flashpoint for free speech in America. Many Democrats, actors and comedians cried foul as right-wing activists celebrated. On a diplomatic trip in Britain, President Trump knocked Mr. Kimmel for “bad ratings” and proclaimed that ABC “should have fired him a long time ago.”
I’d boycott Disney, except I haven’t given them any money for years now. They are an awful company and stifling political speech is perfectly in line with their prior actions.
While Disney is caving in this circumstance, the real evil is Sinclair Broadcasting. They are wielding the power in this situation, and President Pedophile wants to eliminate the one limit on their growth that exists. They want to gobble up more stations so they can force their fascist propaganda into more U.S. homes.
Don’t get so wrapped up in hating Disney that you miss the ones that are actually pulling the strings.
Fully Agree that Sinclair is a problem, but you can’t really boycott them aside from just not watching their channels.
Also, I kind of disagree about them being the real puppet masters. I’ve worked for an affiliate before. The network holds all the cards in that relationship. Sinclair saying they won’t run network content will just cause them to lose their affiliate status, ABC can just not provide them any content at all, then what will they put on the air? Especially since Disney owns a great deal of syndicated content as well. It’s a pointless bluff statement and ABC/Disney know it, they are just choosing to go along with the fascism.
The problem Is Disney owns everything.