Late-night television suffered another unexpected blow when ABC announced the indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Sept. 17. Kimmel spoke about Charlie Kirk's death in an opening monologue, which inspired outrage from the Federal Communications Commission and resulted in Nexstar pulling the comedian's show from its ABC affiliate stations.
Rather than facing more pushback from the FCC, ABC opted to indefinitely preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! and replace his show with repeats of Celebrity Family Feud. However, ABC and Disney's decision to suspend Kimmel and his show has drawn ire and criticism from everyone from California Governor Gavin Newsom to President Obama and even Emmy winner and Hacks star Jean Smart.
The suspension was almost immediately met with consumers planning to boycott ABC and Disney and canceling their subscriptions to Disney+ and Hulu as a means to send a message of opposition to the company and network. But it's not only consumers who are showing support for Kimmel's situation and its implications on free speech. Prominent television producers are joining the chorus.
Damon Lindelof reveals refusal to work with ABC and Disney again unless Jimmy Kimmel's suspension gets reversed
In a lengthy Instagram caption shared on Sept. 18, Lost and The Leftovers creator Damon Lindelof expressed his support for Jimmy Kimmel and shared that he plans to boycott the Disney company and its network ABC unless the suspension is lifted. Lindelof created one of ABC's most popular drama series and also worked on Once Upon a Time as a producer and Phineas & Ferb as a writer. He hasn't worked with the company since 2014, but it doesn't sound like he's in a rush to now.
Lindelof wrote in his caption, "I was shocked, saddened and infuriated by yesterday’s suspension and look forward to it being lifted soon. If it isn’t, I can’t in good conscience work for the company that imposed it. If you’re about to fire up in my comments, just ask yourself if you know the difference between hate speech and a joke. I think you still do. And Jimmy? You’ve ALWAYS known what you were doing. Love you and support you."
As the creator of a major Disney-owned television series that still makes the company money from streaming on Netflix in addition to Hulu, Lindelof has some power and sway over not only consumers but his fellow industry creatives. While he's currently prepping the release of his DC Comics series Lanterns on HBO in 2026 and wasn't working for Disney, any future projects that would definitely have fans of his work following to wherever it airs and streams takes away from the company's business.
It's an interesting position to consider, especially since ABC just kicked off its fall television season with a new season of Dancing with the Stars and High Potential season 2. While other television creators who might not be working with Disney or ABC will reconsider collaborating in the future, this calls into question how those currently working for the company and network are feeling about the latest attack on late-night television after Stephen Colbert's abrupt cancellation.
The situation continues to unfold in real time with more people speaking out against the decision and the FCC taking aim at other unscripted television series, but a resolution to the matter hasn't been reached as of this writing, if there even will be one. Kimmel also hasn't broken his silence, but he continues to have friends and fans speaking on his behalf and doing what they can to voice their opinions. Time will tell if more prominent creators will join Lindelof in his refusal to work with Disney.