Michael Eisner, former CEO of The Walt Disney Company, has publicly criticised the current leadership over the indefinite suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. In a post on X, Eisner accused FCC Chairman Brendan Carr of using 'out-of-control' intimidation to pressure ABC into pulling the show.
Eisner, who led Disney from 1984 to 2005, questioned why current CEO Bob Iger and other leaders were not resisting what he described as government pressure. He framed the suspension as an attack on free speech, writing: '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?'
ABC announced on Wednesday that 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' would be removed from the network 'for the foreseeable future' after Kimmel made comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kimmel falsely implied that the alleged shooter was a conservative, despite investigators stating the suspect held far-left ideologies.
In his monologue, Kimmel mocked President Donald Trump's response to the tragedy, saying: 'This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend. This is how a 4-year-old mourns a goldfish.' Eisner defended Kimmel, calling him 'very talented and funny' in a dig apparently aimed at Trump, who had previously described Kimmel as 'not a talented person.'
Eisner's tenure at Disney ended after a turbulent succession battle, with Bob Iger succeeding him in 2005. The former CEO's comments mark a rare public rebuke of his successor's handling of a controversy.
