Disney is the 800-pound gorilla of entertainment. In recent months it has come under increasing political attack and public firestorm. After the indefinite suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, anger over the decision quickly turned against the company. Now, pastors, organizations and homeowners are leading calls to boycott its products and services. Kimmel’s remarks have created a firestorm. On top of this, Disney is wrestling with larger political concerns and PR troubles.
Over the past few years, Disney has fought several politically motivated wars, most notably expensive lawsuit after expensive lawsuit. In 2024, timely as ever, the theme park company spoke out against Florida’s anti-LGBTQ+ “Don’t Say Gay” bill. They eventually reached a settlement of their lawsuit with Governor Ron DeSantis. This bipartisan opposition drew attention to other aspects of the company’s political affiliations and messaging.
In 2025, Disney and its subsidiary Lucasfilm got a nasty upset after posting right-wing ideas on social media. This backlash led to attention and condemnation from both sides of the aisle. This criticism blew up into a frenzy of hysteria when Kimmel targeted the GOP’s killing of Charlie Kirk. Unfortunately, his show was cancelled and taken off the air completely.
In 2023, Disney CEO Bob Iger acknowledged that the company’s films had become overly focused on “messaging,” recognizing the need to prioritize entertainment value. Iger’s remarks come in the wake of sustained pickets on the exterior of Disney warehouses. Tonnes of celebrities have promised to sever connections with — or firebomb! — the corporation after learning of its political ties.
One such champion is Brendan Carr, one of the current commissioners of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). He even threatened to retaliate against Disney and ABC for Kimmel’s comments. This has injected another layer of complication into an already tense relationship.
“Anyone who cares about the ability to speak freely for a living should be disturbed by this.” – Tim Dillon
Disney’s obvious punishment of Kimmel by suspending him has not gone unnoticed. So far, calls for boycotts have surfaced against Disney+, Hulu, ESPN and other products under the Disney umbrella. High-profile celebrities and others in the entertainment industry have joined the discussion as well. Damon Lindelof, creator of ABC’s “Lost,” did something outrageous. He announced that he would be collaborating with Disney only if they removed the suspension on Kimmel.
Similarly, Tatiana Maslany, known for her role in Marvel’s “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,” joined the chorus calling for a boycott of Disney products. Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner isn’t happy with how the company is handling the Kimmel situation. His dissatisfaction illuminates the increasing dissatisfaction with how things have played out.
“Where has all the leadership gone? If not for university presidents, law firm managing partners, and corporate chief executives standing up against bullies, who then will step up for the first amendment?” – Michael Eisner
The political implications of Kimmel’s suspension have been met with fierce backlash from the right. Senator Ted Cruz called Carr’s imposition “unbelievably dangerous,” further arguing that it threatens free speech. As one would expect, Donald Trump seized on the opening. He posted footage of Kimmel reading a critical piece about him from salon.com on Academy Awards night.
“He made a total FOOL of himself, his wife and agent begging him not to do it, while also proving to be one of the Worst Hosts in the History of the Academy Awards.” – Donald Trump
Kimmel himself further defended his backroom dealings from backlash even while placing it into the larger context of such political machinations. He emphasized that attempts by left-leaning organizations to demonize people close to him had political motivations.
“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.” – Jimmy Kimmel
“When I came back, what I have really tried to do is to return to our roots.” – [Unnamed Speaker]
Now, Disney is scrambling to find a path forward after being attacked and pressured by politicians, stars, and the public at large. The impact of Kimmel’s suspension is still acutely felt.
Protests are increasing near Disney studios, and social media campaigns are building steam. The company is at this point dealing with significant reputational peril. The entertainment community is an echo chamber of contrary opinions. This fiery confrontation represents a national discussion over free speech and corporate obligation in our divided political climate.
“That is consequences for your actions.” – [Anonymous Source on X]
In many ways, Disney stands at a critical crossroads. It needs to serve the artistic vision of the production, the commercial interests behind it and the choppy political waters in which it sails.