Iger Addresses the Kimmel Controversy
Former Disney CEO Bob Iger is speaking out about one of the more controversial decisions made during his final year at the company: the suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over comments Kimmel made about conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. In a new interview with the Financial Times, Iger denied that the suspension had anything to do with politics or pressure from the Trump administration.
Iger said the decision was about taste, not ideology: “That was not the case. We thought it was in bad taste. We just wanted him to acknowledge that it was an ill-timed and probably inappropriate comment.”
What Happened With Kimmel and Kirk
The controversy stemmed from comments Jimmy Kimmel made about Charlie Kirk following Kirk’s killing in September 2025. Kimmel’s remarks were widely criticized, and Disney, which owns ABC where Kimmel’s show airs, took the unusual step of suspending the host. The move prompted significant speculation that Disney was capitulating to political pressure, particularly given the broader climate around entertainment companies and the Trump administration.
Kimmel returned to his show after roughly five days off the air, and the episode largely faded from the news cycle. But the question of whether Disney’s decision was politically motivated has lingered, making Iger’s public response notable.
Iger on His Way Out
Bob Iger stepped down as Disney CEO earlier this year, succeeded by Josh D’Amaro on March 18, 2026, as a broader leadership transition took hold at the company. Iger’s Financial Times interview is among his first significant public statements on the matter since leaving the role, and his willingness to address the Kimmel episode directly suggests he is comfortable revisiting controversies from his tenure now that he is no longer in the chair. For more on the company’s leadership, read about Josh D’Amaro’s invitation to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
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