Jimmy Kimmel Offers Candid Thoughts on Disney Leadership and His Show's Wild Ride

The past month has certainly been a wild one for late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. After a high-profile suspension from ABC, he is now sharing many details. Kimmel opened up about the recent events and his thoughts on Disney's future leadership. He also talked about whether he would invite President Trump to his show. These comments came in his first wide-ranging interview since the recent furor. He shared his views during the Bloomberg Screentime event in Los Angeles on October 8, 2025.

The Rollercoaster Ride: Jimmy Kimmel's Recent Suspension and Return

The whole situation began after Kimmel made comments on the September 15 broadcast of Jimmy Kimmel Live! He spoke about the killer of Charlie Kirk, saying, "We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it."

These remarks quickly went viral and sparked a major backlash. FCC chair Brendan Carr was among those who commented. Carr even hinted at action against ABC's affiliate licenses. Two days later, Disney bosses made the decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live! This suspension did not last long. It ended in less than a week after a lot of criticism from Hollywood's creative community. They rallied to support the host both online and in person. Kimmel's return episode was a huge success. It became his most-watched episode ever.

Speaking at the Screentime event, Kimmel explained his original comment that led to the suspension. He felt it was "intentionally, and I think, maliciously, mischaracterized." However, he also said the suspension gave him space to think. "I can sometimes be reactionary, I can sometimes be aggressive," he admitted. "Having those days to think about it was helpful."

Behind the Curtain: Kimmel's Discussions with Disney Leaders During the Turmoil

Kimmel revealed he had "really good conversations" with Disney Ceo Bob Iger and Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Dana Walden after the show was taken off the air. "These are people that I I've known for a long time, and who I like very much, and we all wanted this to work out best," he stated. He pointed out that he "ruined Dana's weekend" with "non-stop phone calls."

He largely credited Walden with helping resolve the situation. He believes the "very positive" outcome would not have happened without his extensive talks with Walden. She helped him "think everything through" and "understand where everyone was coming from." He also called Walden a "great boss." Kimmel felt the criticism directed at Disney executives was "very unfair." "I don't think anyone should ever be put in a position like this," he added.

The host shared a past experience of almost losing his show. During the 2004 NBA playoffs, he made a joke about Detroit that angered many. This led to his show being pulled off the air in Detroit. His mentor at ABC, Alex Wallau, told him, "If we don't have Detroit, you're done with the show. The show's over." Kimmel had to go to Detroit for a week to do the show and "kiss as much ass as I possibly could." This past lesson gave him pause during the recent suspension, when 70 ABC affiliate stations, including those owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group, dropped his show. He thought, "well that's it." He also confirmed he would not agree to the affiliates' "list of demands," which included an apology and a donation to Kirk's Turning Point USA. "I said to my wife, 'That's it. It's over.'"

When the plan for Kimmel's return was finalized, they did not agree on specific words for his first monologue. Instead, they agreed on the "spirit" of his comments. Kimmel wanted his monologue to be "truthful" and "honest" about his feelings and what he had experienced.

Who Should Lead Disney? Kimmel's Strong Endorsement for Dana Walden

During the Screentime discussion, Kimmel was asked who he thought should be the next CEO of Disney. While he joked it would be "very foolish" to answer, given his position as a high-profile Disney talent, he did not hold back. He openly backed Dana Walden, the Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment, for the top job. "I happen to love Dana Walden very much, and I think she's done a great job," Kimmel declared.

His endorsement largely stemmed from her handling of his recent controversial suspension. He strongly felt that "what has happened over the last like three weeks was very unfair to my bosses at Disney. I don't think anyone should ever be put in a position like this. It is insane, and I hope that we drew a really, really bold red line as Americans about what we will and will not accept, and really hope that that's what comes out of all of it."

Recent reports suggest other candidates are in the running for Disney's top role. Josh D'Amaro, head of Disney Parks, is considered a frontrunner. However, current CEO Bob Iger stated the Board of Directors has not made a decision. Some reports even say Iger became angry when D'Amaro was suggested. Walden herself was reportedly key in Iger's return to the CEO position. While investors and park fans often favor D'Amaro due to his long experience and leadership of Disney's profitable parks division, Walden brings years of Hollywood experience. However, Disney's entertainment division has not been doing well lately.

Given Kimmel's show's recent ratings dip after its initial spike following the suspension, some wonder if his endorsement helps Walden. Investors might see the entire situation as something that could have been avoided. Ultimately, the Walt Disney Board will decide who gets the job.

The Cost of Comedy: Unpacking Late Night Television's Financial Structure

Kimmel also shared some fascinating details about the economics of late-night shows. He revealed that the budget for these shows hovers around $120 million per year. However, he quickly added that he does not believe they need to be that expensive.

He spoke about the cancellation of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. Reports claimed Colbert's show was losing about $40 million annually. Kimmel called these reports "nonsense." "I know what these shows cost," Kimmel said. "If we were losing that kind of money, none of us would be on. This is not PBS, you know?" He clarified that late-night shows initially started as a way to get "high priced talent for almost free." They were viewed as promotional. The idea that these shows need to cost $120 million is "crazy," he said.

Can Late Night TV Survive? Kimmel's View on Budgets and Audiences

Amid concerns about the overall state of late-night television, Kimmel remains hopeful. He does not believe these shows need to disappear completely. He suggests there are ways for them to continue, mainly by reducing production costs. "You could still have the same format, you could still have a band, you could have all of those things and still do the show for a lot less money," he explained. The main difference would be that "the host is not going to make as much money, and the audience isn't going to be as big."

Kimmel sees value in this future, even with smaller audiences. "I love the idea that people can make a living with 200,000 viewers every day or every night," he said. He likes the idea that shows can talk about "weirdly specific things" for interested audiences. "I love the idea that a 16-year-old can have their own TV show," he added, looking towards new ways of content creation.

YouTube's Big Role: How Online Views Change the Game for Late Night

Kimmel also talked about the popularity of his show on YouTube. He stated he has never changed his show specifically to suit YouTube. "I'm very, very conscious of the fact that ABC pays for the show, and YouTube pays nothing, and YouTube gets to sell it and keep half the money. That's quite a deal for them. It really is."

Despite this, he loves YouTube. "All you really want deep down, is for as many people to see your stuff as you can." He admitted that YouTube's popularity has likely "hurt his linear ratings." He quickly pointed out that declining lead-in audiences for late-night shows are probably a bigger reason for the shift. "The fact that we have our lead ins are a 10th of what they were when I started. That's probably more likely the reason," he concluded. He enjoys the idea that "people in other countries are watching YouTube."

Addressing Hard Topics: Trump and the Riyadh Comedy Festival

The interview also touched on some serious topics. When asked about inviting FCC chair Brendan Carr or President Trump to his show, Kimmel quickly replied, "I'd love to have Trump on the show, for sure."

The recent Riyadh Comedy Festival also came up. Aziz Ansari, who recently appeared on Kimmel's show to promote his film Good Fortune, was among the comedians who performed there. Kimmel's questions to Ansari suggested he might have been against the event. Kimmel explained his stance, saying, "I wouldn't have gone, but I wanted to hear his reasons, and I thought he had some compelling reasons." He believes "nothing's black and white." He added, "It's not something I would do but I do understand the idea that if we close ourselves off to the world, or we isolate, that maybe it's not good." He also compared it to "many of us" not wanting to be held accountable for what President Trump says when traveling. Kimmel feels fortunate that people know him and his views, unlike others who might feel the need to clarify their political stance when abroad.

Kimmel Stays Mum on His Own Late Night Future to Keep Staff Happy

While Kimmel spoke openly about many topics, he declined to comment on his own late-night future. His current ABC deal expires next year, but he chose not to say whether he plans to extend his run. "I often answer that question, and then I do the opposite of what I said previously," Kimmel confessed. "I said this is going to be like my last one [on the] last three contracts. I said this is the last one. So, I've learned not to say anything anymore, because it upsets my staff." He confirmed he remains in active discussions with the network.

From navigating a controversial suspension to publicly endorsing Disney's next potential CEO and musing about the economics of late-night, Jimmy Kimmel offered a candid look into his world. His interview shed light on the pressures and decisions at play in a major media company and the evolving landscape of television entertainment.