Jimmy Kimmel’s Future In Limbo, But Crew Will Be Paid Through Next Week

The future of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” remains uncertain after the program was abruptly “pre-empted indefinitely” on Wednesday. The suspension came amid backlash over comments Jimmy Kimmel made in a monologue about Charlie Kirk’s suspected killer and how Donald Trump reacted to the death of his friend. Just hours after, Trump administration official Brendan Carr, who oversees FCC licensing for ABC’s local stations, publicly pressured Disney to take action. However, while the program is off the air, sources confirmed that the 200 to 250 employees who power “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” will continue to be paid through next week.

Two insiders told CNN the decision provides temporary relief for staff, even as the larger future of the show remains in limbo. Kimmel, known for looking out for his team, has made similar moves in the past. During the 2023 WGA strike, the host reportedly dipped into his own funds to support crew members, and when Los Angeles wildfires shut down production earlier this year, the show’s Hollywood backlot became a donation hub for victims.

Amid growing backlash over Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension, former Disney CEO Michael Eisner has stepped into the conversation with a sharp rebuke of federal regulators. On Friday, Eisner publicly voiced his support for the late-night host and blasted what he described as “out-of-control intimidation” by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.

In a post on X, Eisner questioned the pressure placed on ABC and Disney in the hours leading up to the announcement that “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” would be pulled from the air. “Where has all the leadership gone?” Eisner asked, before also taking aim at what he sees as a fundamental betrayal of free speech principles. "Maybe the Constitution should have said, ‘Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, except in one’s political or financial self-interest,'" he quipped.

Eisner closed his statement with a personal note of support, writing, “By the way, for the record, this ex-CEO finds Jimmy Kimmel very talented and funny.”

The backlash over Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension also drew fire from an unlikely corner of the political spectrum. Senator Ted Cruz sharply criticized FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, accusing him of acting like a mob boss in pressuring ABC to take action against the late-night host.

Speaking out on the controversy, Cruz said Carr’s threats over Kimmel’s monologue about Charlie Kirk’s killing were “dangerous as hell.” According to BBC, he even slipped into a mobster impression to drive the point home, remarking, “That’s right out of 'Goodfellas.'”

While some Republicans have remained muted in their response to the FCC’s involvement, Cruz’s remarks mark the strongest rebuke yet from a prominent conservative, signaling bipartisan alarm over what many see as political intimidation of a major broadcast network.

Not everyone is rallying behind Jimmy Kimmel. On Friday afternoon, Vice President JD Vance offered a blunt take on the controversy, downplaying free speech concerns and instead taking aim at the late-night host’s popularity.

“Jimmy Kimmel wasn’t funny, his ratings were in the toilet, and his advertisers were revolting,” Vance wrote on X. He went on to mock the uproar over censorship, adding: “Also the bellyaching from the left over ‘free speech’ after the Biden years fools precisely no one.”

A source familiar with the negotiations revealed that Kimmel met with top ABC executives this week at the Century City office of his attorney, alongside his manager, to discuss a possible path forward. Disney is said to be “hopeful” about finding a solution, though no resolution has yet been reached.

“Everyone deeply values him and wants him to come back. But he has to take down the temperature,” a source familiar with the situation told CNN earlier this week.

It seems that both parties are navigating a high-stakes balancing act. Disney must protect its billion-dollar broadcast empire from political interference, while Kimmel faces a decision about how to move forward without compromising his principles, or the livelihoods of his staff.

For now, the paychecks keep coming. But with no clear resolution in sight, the countdown to ABC and Disney’s next move has already begun.