Michael Eisner, the former CEO of Disney who left the company two decades ago, recently spoke out against the current leadership at his former employer. In a post on X, Eisner criticized the decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show “indefinitely,” questioning the lack of leadership within the company.
Eisner expressed his concerns about the implications of ABC’s decision to suspend Kimmel’s show, especially in response to threats from the Chairman of the FCC. He highlighted the importance of standing up for the first amendment and condemned the intimidation tactics being used. Eisner made it clear that he personally finds Jimmy Kimmel to be talented and funny, despite the controversy surrounding his show.
Disney has remained silent on the issue, refusing to provide any further comments on the situation. ABC announced the suspension of Kimmel’s show without giving a specific reason, following backlash from major station groups like Nexstar and Sinclair. These groups dropped the show after Kimmel made controversial comments on a recent episode, prompting FCC Chair Brendan Carr to issue a warning to the network.
Eisner’s time at Disney coincided briefly with the launch of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in 2003. He officially stepped down as CEO in 2005 after a successful tenure with the company. Despite leaving Disney, Eisner has shown support for current CEO Bob Iger in the past, particularly during a proxy fight in 2024. He praised Iger’s leadership and urged Disney shareholders to vote for the company’s slate of directors.
Overall, Eisner’s criticism of Disney’s handling of the Jimmy Kimmel situation sheds light on the complexities of corporate leadership and free speech in today’s media landscape. It remains to be seen how Disney will address the fallout from the suspension of Kimmel’s show and whether they will take a stand against external pressures.
