Disney+ Faces Backlash Over Kimmel Suspension, Sees Spike in Cancellations and Viewership
A new report has revealed the dramatic fallout from ABC’s politically charged suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live in September, following the host’s remarks on the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. While the suspension triggered a sharp increase in subscriber cancellations for Disney’s streaming platforms, it also paradoxically fueled a historic surge in viewership once the show returned.
Mass Cancellations Follow Kimmel Suspension
According to data from research firm Antenna, reported by The New York Times, approximately three million Americans canceled their Disney+ subscriptions in September alone. This represents a significant spike—nearly three times the platform’s three-month average of 1.2 million cancellations.
Analyzed from another angle, the subscription cancellation rate for Disney+ jumped from 4% in July and August to 8% in September. Hulu, also under Disney’s umbrella, saw a rise from 5% to 10% in the same period.
The main catalyst appears to be ABC’s decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel Live off the air for six days in mid-September. The move came after political pressure from the Trump administration and affiliate partners, including Nexstar and Sinclair, to preempt the show. The trigger? Kimmel’s Sept. 15 monologue, in which he criticized efforts by right-wing voices to distance themselves from Tyler Robinson, the alleged shooter in the Sept. 10 murder of Charlie Kirk.
“We had some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them,” Kimmel said during the segment.
The backlash from conservative figures and viewers was immediate and intense, placing Disney and ABC at the center of a heated political firestorm.
Price Hikes May Have Contributed
Though the Kimmel controversy is widely seen as a driving force, it wasn’t the only variable affecting subscriber numbers. Disney also announced price hikes across its streaming bundles and standalone platforms in September, with changes set to take effect in October. The announcement likely added fuel to the cancellation fire.
However, amid the storm, there was also a surprising surge: Disney+ and Hulu actually gained more new subscribers in September than in the previous month. Disney+ increased from 1.99 million new subscribers in August to 2.18 million in September. Hulu rose from 1.97 million to 2.11 million in the same timeframe.
This suggests that while a significant number of subscribers walked away in protest, others may have signed up in response to the controversy—or simply as part of the ongoing streaming churn trend.
Kimmel Returns to Record-Breaking Numbers
Despite the backlash, Kimmel’s return to air on Sept. 23 was a major win for ABC. The episode drew 6.2 million viewers—the highest viewership for a regularly scheduled episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live since March 12, 2015. That number represented more than four times the show’s average viewership prior to its suspension.
The return episode featured a defiant Kimmel who did not backtrack on his prior remarks. While his tone was slightly more measured, he continued to double down on free speech and criticized the politicization of media narratives surrounding Kirk’s death.
Public Reaction Remains Divided
The entire episode has ignited a broader conversation about freedom of speech, political influence in media, and the consequences of silencing public figures. Supporters of Kimmel have praised him for speaking out and for refusing to apologize under political pressure. Critics argue that his comments were unnecessarily inflammatory and disrespectful in the wake of a national tragedy.
Social media remains deeply polarized. Hashtags such as #BoycottDisneyPlus, #KimmelWasRight, and #FreeSpeechMatters have all trended at various points, depending on the day’s headlines.
What This Means for Disney Moving Forward
The events of September underscore the fragile balance that legacy media brands like Disney must strike between business interests, political realities, and the personal convictions of their talent. The backlash illustrates that audiences today are more reactive—and more willing to mobilize with their wallets—than ever before.
Disney’s dilemma is far from over. With election season heating up and tensions running high, the entertainment giant will need to carefully navigate a polarized landscape where even a monologue can cost millions—or win millions back.
As for Jimmy Kimmel, the ratings speak for themselves. Love him or hate him, his voice is louder than ever. And the network that silenced him is now seeing just how costly—and lucrative—that voice can be.
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