Jimmy Kimmel Live! produced yet another viral monologue last night (September 25) following the ABC saga, and though the show is back on the air, Disney investors want answers about his suspension.
For the uninitiated, Kimmel’s late night chat show hit the headlines after last Monday’s (September 15) episode in which he slammed Donald Trump’s response to Charlie Kirk’s death, which drew criticism from FCC chairman Brendan Carr.
ABC affiliate holders Nexstar and Sinclair announced shortly after that they were preempting the series, with Disney-owned ABC following suit. The response was loud: netizens threatened to boycott Disney and 400 celebrities signed an open letter in support of Kimmel and free speech.
Following successful negotiations, ABC put Jimmy Kimmel Live! back on the air on Tuesday (aside from its affiliate stations owned by Sinclair and Nexstar, which maintain the ban). Another episode aired last night (September 25), and the figures are once again huge.
Jimmy Kimmel Live! monologue goes viral once more
Since being uploaded to YouTube nine hours ago, Kimmel’s latest monologue has been viewed more than two million times.
This figure might not be as big as the first one after the suspension, which is currently at 21.7 million views, but it’s still massive compared to his usual YouTube video average of 240,000 hits.
Part of the reason the online ratings are so high is the fact that Jimmy Kimmel Live! isn’t being broadcast in 20% of US households due to Nexstar and Sinclair, something Kimmel addressed in his first monologue back.
As the show is uploading the main segments from the show to YouTube so quickly, it allows viewers from across the globe and in blackout states to tune in. In the comments section of the latest clip, one wrote, “Greetings from Ukraine. We love Jimmy!”
“So pleased to watch you on YouTube every morning in Scotland,” said another, while a third added, “For anyone in the blackout areas please please please continue to watch online, don’t let these broadcasting networks try and control what you can see.”
The latest monologue tackles everything from the Epstein files and the escalator drama to Tylenol and TikTok. The host also announced the stacked line-up for his week of Jimmy Kimmel Live! shows in Brooklyn, which will start from next Monday (September 29).
Among those who’ll be appearing on the show are Ryan Reynolds, Emily Blunt, Tom Hanks, Bruce Springsteen, and Spike Lee, as well as Stephen Colbert in his first sit-down interview outside of The Late Show since CBS canceled his series earlier this year.
While announcing this, Kimmel quipped, “What we have to do now is stay on the move so the FCC won’t get us.”
Disney investors demand answers over ABC controversy
As Kimmel’s show enjoys record ratings, behind the scenes, a group of Disney investors are demanding the media conglomerate turn over documents related to the suspension of the show after stock figures dropped amid the backlash.
While the exact amount of money Disney lost is currently unclear, we know that large swathes of Disney Plus and Hulu users canceled their subscriptions to the streaming services due to allegations that ABC was complicit in media censorship.
According to Alt National Park Service, it received confirmation from 50,000 people who had canceled their subscription. Again, this figure hasn’t been verified, but the backlash certainly will have impacted Disney’s performance in some way.
Elsewhere, netizens were urging Disney stock holders to sell their shares, while others suggested canceling trips to Disney’s theme parks and resorts.
Now, a group of investors composed of lawyers for the American Federation of Teachers and Reporters Without Borders have written a letter addressed to Disney CEO Bob Iger requesting “transparency into the initial decision to suspend Mr. Kimmel and his show.”
It reads, “Disney’s stock suffered significant declines in response to the company’s abrupt decision to suspend Mr. Kimmel and his show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, which appeared to be in response to threats from the Chairman of the FCC, Brendan Carr, and ABC affiliates.”
The letter goes on to highlight Sinclair and Nexstar, including the fact that the latter is currently seeking approval from the FCC for a $6.2 billion acquisition of the media company Tegna.
“Mr. Kimmel and his show were suspended in the wake of comments he made during his September 15, 2025 monologue that addressed the politicization of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk,” it continues.
“ABC… pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! and has now restored him to the air as of September 23, 2025, although the program was not available on approximately 25% of ABC affiliates – those owned by Nexstar and Sinclair.”
“The fallout from suspending Jimmy Kimmel Live! sparked criticism as an attack on free speech, triggered boycotts and union support for Mr. Kimmel, and caused Disney’s stock to plummet amid fears of brand damage and concerns that Disney was complicit in succumbing to government overreach and media censorship.”
The investors are seeking “copies of any meeting minutes, meeting agendas, and written materials” provided to the company’s board in relation to Kimmel’s suspension, with a deadline of five business days after the letter was sent on Wednesday (September 24).
It’s unclear how or when Disney will respond, but the letter at least shows the financial impact Kimmel’s suspension and the subsequent boycott had on the House of Mouse.
Stranger Things Season 5 Episodes 4 and 8 'Are Like Movies,' Showrunner Clarifies, but 'Every Runtime I've Seen Posted Online Is Inaccurate'