Add your name to the petition to demand that ABC and Disney reinstate Jimmy Kimmel NOW!
Dear MoveOn member,
In an abrupt move that has shocked viewers across the country, ABC and Disney have pulled late-show host Jimmy Kimmel "indefinitely" after he criticized on-air the Trump administration and Republicans' exploitation of Charlie Kirk’s murder.1
So what did he say that was so horrifyingly egregious that he was pulled from his show?
"The MAGA gang [is] 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." He went on to criticize Trump and the flurry of speculation and misinformation that were recklessly spread in order to spin a story.2
Let's be clear: Kimmel wasn’t suspended for his remarks on Kirk—his show was pulled because he used his platform to expose and critique our government. This is a direct attack on our freedom of speech.
Enough! Corporations like Disney need to know that viewers expect them to fight back against our government’s censorship and control. Will you sign the petition?
Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission Brendan Carr announced Wednesday that he had a strong case for taking action against Kimmel—insinuating that Disney’s license was on the line.
"This is a very, very serious issue right now for Disney. They have a license granted by us at the FCC, and that comes with it an obligation to operate in the public interest," Carr said.3
This is blatant corruption—a government agency abusing its power to coerce corporations into submission and silence those who disagree with it. Disney quickly caved to the FCC’s veiled threats, but together we can apply pressure and demand that they reverse this decision and use their more than $90 BILLION in revenue to actually fight back.4
The FCC may give Disney its license, but it's everyday people who make Disney relevant. If they want the trust of their customers, they have to reverse this terrible decision, reinstate Kimmel, and demonstrate that they will fight back against censorship NOW!
Kimmel's firing comes on the heels of CBS and Paramount Global's firing of popular and Emmy-winning late-show host Stephen Colbert. From slashing funding for public television and NPR to silencing prominent media figures, the Trump administration wants to control what Americans hear and watch. It wants to strip away access to a diversity of news and information sources so that it can completely control the narrative.
Just like he did when "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" was canceled, Trump took to Truth Social to celebrate Kimmel's firing—and urged NBC to follow suit and cancel Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers.5 It's clear that he is not going to stop at Colbert and Kimmel. He will continue to attack and silence any public figure who dares to dissent.
This isn't just about Kimmel. It’s about the ability of people—whether they're high-profile media hosts or everyday Americans—to speak out against the government.
This is yet another marker of our country's dangerous descent into authoritarianism, and we have to resist every step of the way. Together we can show the widespread public outrage at Disney and ABC for cowering to the Trump administration's threats and demand that they reinstate Kimmel immediately.
Thanks for all you do.
–Aliya, Justin, Corinne, Kelsey, and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. "ABC Pulls Jimmy Kimmel Off Air for Charlie Kirk Comments After F.C.C. Pressure," The New York Times, September 18, 2025
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/business/media/abc-jimmy-kimmel.html
2. "What did Jimmy Kimmel say about Charlie Kirk before ABC pulled his show?" Al Jazeera, September 18, 2025
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/18/what-did-jimmy-kimmel-say-about-charlie-kirk-before-abc-pulled-his-show
3. Ibid.
4. "Disney Revenue 2010-2025 | DIS," Macrotrends, accessed September 18, 2025
https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/DIS/disney/revenue
5. "After Kimmel suspension, Trump sets sights on Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers: 'Do It NBC!'" USA Today, September 18, 2025
https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2025/09/18/jimmy-kimmel-suspension-trump-reaction/86214366007/
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