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Iger: Kimmel's Joke Was 'Bad Taste,' Not Political
25 Jun
Summary
- Former Disney CEO Bob Iger clarified the reason for Jimmy Kimmel's suspension.
- Iger stated Kimmel's joke was considered "in bad taste," not politically motivated.
- The suspension lasted less than one week and was intended to prompt acknowledgment.
In a recent interview, former Disney CEO Bob Iger shed light on Jimmy Kimmel's suspension from the airwaves last September. Iger clarified that the decision to suspend Kimmel was not, as some had claimed, an act of allegiance to President Donald Trump. Instead, Iger explained that the network believed Kimmel's comments regarding Charlie Kirk's death were "in bad taste."
The suspension, which concluded in less than a week, was enacted because network executives wanted Kimmel to acknowledge his remarks were ill-timed and inappropriate. Kimmel had made the controversial comments during his September 15 monologue, which drew significant backlash and led to two major ABC affiliate groups temporarily halting the show's broadcast.
Upon his return on September 23, Kimmel addressed the controversy in his opening monologue. He clarified his statements, spoke respectfully of Charlie Kirk's widow, and advocated for free speech, arguing that such suspensions threaten democracy. His subsequent monologue garnered over 15 million views on YouTube within 24 hours, becoming his most-watched ever on the platform.
