Howard Stern knocks Disney over Kimmel ouster
Radio host Howard Stern blasted Disney for its decision to take comedian Jimmy Kimmel off the air, a move that has earned the media conglomerate a flood of criticism and accusations of bending to pressure from the federal government.
"I don't know what their plan is," Stern said on his show Monday, revealing he has spoken to Kimmel recently but didn't press the late-night comic on if he plans to return to the air, noting "I just asked him how he was doing personally."
Kimmel was suspended from ABC last week after his comments criticizing conservatives for trying to "score political points" off the assassination of activist Charlie Kirk's killing and joking that President Trump was mourning Kirk's death "like a four year old mourns a dead gold fish."
The remarks earned Kimmel a sharp rebuke from many Republicans, including Trump's Federal Communications Commission chair, who suggested the host face consequences from the network and its affiliates for the comments.
Critics of ABC's suspension of Kimmel have argued the Trump administration is using the episode as another attempt to crack down on the First Amendment rights of prominent people who speak out against the administration, as Kimmel has done for years.
"I just know when the government begins to interfere, when the government says, I'm not pleased with you, so we're gonna orchestrate a way to silence you. It's the wrong direction for our country," Stern said. "And I should know I've been involved in something like this and now ABC is put in the same position and it's unfortunate that ABC even has to be in this position. They shouldn't have to be in this position. I feel for them too, in this."
Stern said he was "canceling my Disney+" subscription in response to how Disney and ABC were handling the Kimmel situation, adding "I'm trying to say with the pocketbook that I do not support what they're doing with Jimmy."
Disney has not indicated publicly if or when they plan to bring Kimmel back to his late night perch.