ABC Execs Reportedly ‘Pissing Themselves All Day’ Before Announcing ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Suspension

ABC execs were well aware that their decision to “indefinitely” suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live! wouldn’t go over well with late-night fans or free speech advocates. 

Though “multiple” network higher-ups reportedly believed that Kimmel’s remarks about accused Charlie Kirk killer, Tyler Robinson, were well within acceptable bounds, they were still worried about backlash from the White House.

“They were pissing themselves all day,” an unnamed source close to ABC told Rolling Stone of the lead-up to the decision, which was allegedly made official by Disney CEO Bob Iger and Disney’s entertainment co-chairman Dana Walden. Walden was then tasked with informing Kimmel that his TV gig of 22 years would be indefinitely put on hold, per Deadline.

“Both sides were very businesslike and polite,” another unidentified insider said of the phone call that took place hours before Kimmel was set to start taping Wednesday night’s episode. 

The pair’s “thoughtful conversation,” as another anonymous source put it, didn’t do much in swaying Kimmel to walk back his statements. The comedian, who reportedly would’ve addressed “President Trump’s most fervent supporters” in the now-scrapped episode, made it clear that he wouldn’t issue an apology for his comments. 

The administration certainly isn’t sorry either — not with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr trolling media outlets with reaction GIFs, President Trump calling for Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers to have their shows taken off the air next and Vice President JD Vance joking about Secretary of State Marco Rubio taking over Kimmel’s post.