The Jimmy Kimmel Drama Is Casting a Shadow Over ABC's Hottest Competition Show
ABC might be sweating their FCC fight over Jimmy Kimmel more than you think — it’s putting their hottest reality TV show in jeopardy.
Dancing With the Stars, which is currently in its 34th season, is enjoying somewhat of a comeback the last two years after a decade of declining ratings. The bounce has to do with a younger generation tuning into Gen Z pros, including Rylee Arnold and Ezra Sosa, but the celebration could be short-lived with the current boycott.
The show can be viewed live on ABC and Disney+ or the next day on Hulu. Those three channels are important to the show’s success, but that’s all on the line with fans canceling their subscriptions in protest of ABC “indefinitely suspending” Jimmy Kimmel Live over his Monday, Sept. 15 monologue. Kimmel was criticizing Donald Trump’s response to the death of Charlie Kirk, but the administration and the FCC didn’t agree.
Now, a Reddit thread dedicated to the show has hardcore fans weighing in on the First Amendment controversy. “Canceled my Hulu and Disney+ + tonight,” one Reddit user wrote. “I’m sad, I was looking forward to this season, but this is more important.” Another fan added, “We are cancelling our subscription this weekend and saving money. I will watch clips online, but I won’t be voting or watching it on ABC/Disney.”
“I love this show and have fond memories watching it with my mom,” one viewer shared. “But I cannot in good conscience watch this season. It’s a shame that we are getting to this point as a country. Disney+ subscription has been canceled.”
The show’s second episode, airing Sept. 23, will be the true litmus test as to whether fans actually honor the boycott. Dancing With the Stars had a huge premiere night on Sept. 16 with its “biggest premiere in five years,” according to Variety. The dance competition series won the night with 5.5 million viewers and 21 million votes cast for the current crop of contestants, including Robert Irwin, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Whitney Leavitt, and Fifth Harmony member Lauren Jauregui.
According to Culture Base, Disney lost a reported $3.87 billion in the first 24 hours of the boycott. The story isn’t going away from the headlines, but no agreement has been reached between Kimmel, his bosses, and the FCC. The late-night talk show host is receiving support from both sides of the political aisle, and it will be fascinating to see if Dancing With the Stars viewers stay committed and avoid the glitter and glam until the controversy is resolved.
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