Kimmel's Suspension Shook Up Streaming: What Happened to Disney+ & Hulu?

Jimmy Kimmel's brief suspension from ABC last month caused a ripple effect in the streaming world, with Disney+ and Hulu seeing a big surge in cancellations. But it's not the whole story!

TL;DR

• Disney+ and Hulu's cancellation rates (churn) doubled in September 2025, reaching 8% and 10% respectively, following Jimmy Kimmel's suspension.
• Despite the surge in cancellations, both streamers also saw a significant increase in new sign-ups during the same month.
• The cancellations were likely influenced by both the Kimmel controversy and previously announced price hikes for Disney's streaming services.

The Controversial Comments That Started a Major Media Stir

Alright, buckle up, because September 2025 was quite the ride for Disney and its streaming empire. It all kicked off when late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, known for his sharp wit and political commentary, made some remarks on his show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, that quickly ignited a firestorm.

On September 15, Kimmel aired comments concerning the suspect charged with the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, falsely suggesting the individual was part of "the MAGA gang." This immediately drew heavy criticism, especially after reports indicated the suspect leaned left politically. The backlash wasn't just online; it came from significant figures, including FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who reportedly threatened to revoke ABC's broadcast license, and major affiliate groups like Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group, who announced they would preempt Kimmel's program.

In response to the mounting pressure and controversy, ABC — owned by Disney — made the decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live! on September 17. The show was pulled off the air "indefinitely," sparking a massive debate about free speech, censorship, and political influence in media.

Hollywood, Fans, and Political Figures Reacted with Outrage and Boycotts

The suspension of a prominent late-night host didn't go unnoticed. The move was met with an immediate outcry from various corners. Critics and First Amendment advocates slammed ABC's decision, calling it censorship and a clear violation of free speech. Protests erupted outside the studio, and lawmakers, writers' and actors' guilds, and even the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) voiced their disapproval.

Social media lit up with calls to action, particularly urging viewers to boycott Disney's streaming services, Disney+ and Hulu, as a form of economic pressure. Even influential personalities like SiriusXM host Howard Stern publicly announced he was canceling his Disney+ subscription in protest, saying, "I'm trying to say with the pocketbook that I do not support what they're doing with Jimmy."

Hundreds of celebrities and Hollywood creatives also signed an open letter backing Kimmel, highlighting the widespread nature of the support for the host and the alarm over ABC's decision.

"Now it might sound stupid, but the thing I did this morning, I’m canceling my Disney+. I’m trying to say with the pocketbook that I do not support what they’re doing with Jimmy."

— Howard Stern on his SiriusXM show

The Hard Numbers: Disney+ and Hulu Face Significant Subscriber Churn

Fast forward to October, and the first hard data reflecting the impact of this drama emerged. According to reports citing subscription analytics firm Antenna, September 2025 saw a dramatic shift in subscriber behavior for Disney+ and Hulu.

• Disney+: The monthly cancellation rate, often called "churn," for Disney+ doubled from an average of about 4% in August to a whopping 8% in September. This translated to approximately 3 million U.S. subscribers cancelling their service. For context, this was roughly twice as much as the typical three-month average loss.
• Hulu: Similarly, Hulu experienced a significant spike, with its churn rate jumping from approximately 5% in August to 10% in September. This resulted in roughly 4.1 million subscribers leaving the service, compared to 1.9 million just the month prior.

To put these numbers in perspective, the industry-weighted average cancellation rate across nine major premium streaming services in September was 7%. While other services like HBO Max, Paramount+, and Apple TV also saw slight increases in their churn rates, none rose as drastically as Disney+ and Hulu.

But Wait, There's More! New Sign-Ups Tell a Different Story

While the cancellation numbers are certainly eye-catching, they don't paint the full picture. Interestingly, the same data from Antenna also revealed a significant increase in new subscriptions for both Disney+ and Hulu during September:

• Disney+: Gained approximately 2.2 million new subscribers in the U.S. (2.18 million according to some reports), representing roughly a 10% increase compared to August.
• Hulu: Added approximately 2.1 million new subscribers (2.11 million), a 5% increase over August.

So, while millions were leaving, millions were also signing up! This surge in new subscribers helped to offset some of the losses, making the net impact on subscriber counts less clear without Disney's official figures. Antenna's methodology, however, doesn't always capture all subscription types, like those through wholesale deals (e.g., Charter), which could mean even more additions that aren't reflected in these initial reports.

Was It Just Kimmel, or Were Other Factors at Play?

It's natural to point to the Kimmel controversy as the direct cause for the churn spikes, and it undoubtedly played a role. The social media calls for boycotts and the strong public reaction confirm that. However, it's also important to remember that September brought another significant event for Disney's streaming services: price hikes.

Disney had previously announced increases across most Disney+, Hulu streaming plans, and bundles, with new costs taking effect in October. Historically, price increases almost always lead to higher-than-usual cancellation rates in the short term as consumers re-evaluate their subscriptions. So, it's likely that the doubling of churn rates was a complex mix of both the political fallout from the Kimmel suspension and the impending financial impact of higher subscription fees.

A source close to Disney also noted that Antenna's figures are estimates and that Disney's internal data shows lower cancellation numbers. They also pointed out that while people are loud when canceling, they often quietly return later. This makes it difficult to pinpoint the exact, long-term impact of the suspension.

Kimmel Returns Stronger Than Ever, At Least for a Bit

Despite the initial "indefinite suspension," ABC reinstated Jimmy Kimmel Live! less than a week later, on September 23. Disney stated they had "thoughtful conversations with Jimmy" and decided to bring the show back, aiming "to avoid further inflaming a tense situation."

Kimmel's return was met with a massive audience. His first episode back drew an astonishing 6.3 million viewers on television, becoming one of the show's highest-rated episodes ever, despite still being preempted by some affiliate stations at first. His emotional "comeback" monologue, where he clarified his earlier remarks and passionately defended free speech, racked up over 22 million views on YouTube by late October, dwarfing his linear TV ratings according to a YouTube executive.

Days after his return, both Sinclair and Nexstar Media Groups ended their preemption of the show, allowing Kimmel to be seen on all ABC affiliates once again.

What This Means for Disney's Future Reporting and Your Streaming Choices

This whole saga highlights the delicate balance streaming services navigate between content, user experience, and public perception. The immediate, measurable impact of the Kimmel controversy, even if intertwined with price changes, shows that audiences are paying attention and are willing to act with their wallets.

Looking ahead, Disney has already announced that it will stop reporting subscriber numbers for Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ starting in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 (the last three months of calendar year 2025), and for ESPN+ as of the September 2025 quarter. This decision, made before the Kimmel brouhaha, means that getting a clear, public picture of how these events ultimately affected Disney's long-term subscriber base will become even harder.

For us, the viewers, it means that while content remains king, the perceived actions of networks and parent companies can have a real and immediate impact on subscriber loyalty. It's a powerful reminder that in the interconnected world of media, everything from a late-night joke to a price increase can send ripples through the entire ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Jimmy Kimmel Suspension and Streaming When was Jimmy Kimmel's show suspended?

Jimmy Kimmel Live! was suspended by ABC on September 17, 2025, and returned to air on September 23, 2025.

Why was Jimmy Kimmel suspended by ABC?

Kimmel was suspended after making comments on his show that falsely linked the suspect in a murder case to "the MAGA gang," despite evidence to the contrary. This led to significant backlash, public pressure from figures like the FCC Chairman, and preemption by some local ABC affiliates.

Did Disney+ and Hulu really lose subscribers because of this?

According to data from analytics firm Antenna, both Disney+ and Hulu saw their monthly cancellation rates (churn) double in September 2025. While many attributed this to the Kimmel suspension and related boycott calls, it also coincided with previously announced price hikes for the streaming services, making it difficult to isolate a single cause.

Did Disney+ and Hulu gain any new subscribers during this time?

Yes, surprisingly! Despite the surge in cancellations, both Disney+ and Hulu also saw a significant increase in new sign-ups in September. Disney+ gained about 2.2 million new subscribers, and Hulu added around 2.1 million, helping to offset some of the losses.

Sources

• Fox Business - "Payne takes a look at whats behind Kimmels on-air suspension"
• Variety - "Disney+, Hulu Cancellation Rates Doubled Amid Jimmy Kimmel Suspension and Price Hikes – but Sign-Ups Also Increased"
• BBC News - "Spike in Disney+ cancellations after Kimmel suspension"
• Yahoo News - "Disney & Hulu Cancellation Numbers Revealed After Jimmy Kimmel Drama and Price Hikes"
• The Hollywood Reporter - "Disney+ And Hulu Monthly Churn Rates Doubled Amid Jimmy Kimmel Suspension"
• The Independent - "Hulu saw its rate of cancellations double after Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show was temporarily pulled from the air"
• MLive - "Just how many subscribers cancelled Disney+ lose following the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel?"
• Deadline - "Jimmy Kimmel Live! Suspension Coincided With Double-Digit Churn Surge For Disney+ & Hulu"
• The Guardian - "Disney+ and Hulu cancellation rates doubled after Kimmel suspension"
• Mediaite - "Disney Takes Big Hit After Jimmy Kimmel’s Suspension – The Numbers Are In Showing Just How Big"