On the September 23 episode of his SiriusXM show.
Howard Stern celebrated ABC’s decision to end Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension and bring Jimmy Kimmel Live! back on air. Stern, a longtime friend of Kimmel, had publicly criticized the suspension just a day earlier on September 22. By the end of that same day, ABC confirmed the late-night program would return.
Looks like I solved another problem,” Stern joked at the start of his broadcast.
He went on to play a clip from a news segment describing his criticism of Disney, ABC’s parent company, as a “pivotal moment” in the Kimmel controversy. Stern laughed, saying, “All I had to do was mention canceling my Disney+ subscription. What should we fix today, Robin? Global warming? I’m on a roll.”
While joking about his influence, Stern also praised.
Disney for “doing the right thing” and revealed he had spoken to Kimmel but didn’t know what the comedian planned to say in his return monologue. “I just told him I was very happy this was resolved,” Stern said.
Although Stern had threatened to cancel Disney+ in protest, he admitted he never got around to it before ABC reversed course. Later in the show, a caller credited him for helping bring Kimmel back, but Stern downplayed the claim, saying, “I’m not as powerful as you think. A lot of people stepped up to support Jimmy. You’ve got to take a stand at some point, and I’m glad many did.”
Why Was Jimmy Kimmel Suspended?
Disney suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! after Kimmel criticized the “MAGA gang,” accusing them of trying to spin the narrative around the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Tyler Robinson, 22, was charged in connection with Kirk’s death during an event at Utah Valley University.Feeral Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr accused Kimmel of misleading viewers by suggesting.
Robinson was a Trump supporter. Carr publicly pressured ABC to act.
warning on YouTube that “we can do this the easy way or the hard way.” Hours later, ABC pulled the show.Disney Explains Its Decision .In its nitial statement, Disney said Kimmel’s removal was intended to “avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment” and that his remarks were “ill-timed and insensitive.” However, on September 22, after what it described as “thoughtful conversations with Jimmy,” the company announced the show would return on Tuesday.
Readmore Seven Indian-sponsored terrorists killed in DI Khan operation: ISPR … 2025
Stern Slams Government Pressure
Before ABC reversed course, Strn blasted the suspension as “outrageous,” saying, “This isn’t about whether you like Jimmy. It’s about freedom of speech. If ABC wanted to fire him over ratings, fine. But they’re being pressured by the U.S. government. We can’t have that if we want to live in a democracy.
All I had to do was mention canceling my Disney+ subscription,” Howard Strn joked on his SiriusXM show, before asking cohost Robin Quivers, “What should we fix today, Robin? Global warming? I’m on a roll.”
Stern Praises Disney After Kimmel’s Return
While Stern made light of the situation, he also took a serious tone, applauding Disney for “doing the right thing.” He revealed that he spoke with Kimmel on Monday but didn’t know what the late-night host would say in his first monologue back on Jimmy Kimmel Live! “I just told him I was very happy this was resolved,” Stern shared.
Though Strn had threatened to cancel his Disney+ subscription in protest, he admitted to listeners that the suspension was lifted before he could act.
Stern Downplays His Influence
During the show, a caller credited Sten for influencing ABC’s decision to bring Kimmel back, but Stern dismissed the idea. “I’m not as powerful as you think,” he said, adding that “a lot of people stepped up to support Jimmy. You’ve got to take a stand at some point, and I’m glad many did.”
Stern and Kimmel’s close friendship has spanned decades, with the two often appearing at public events together, including Ster’s birthday bash in 2014.
Why Did ABC Suspend Jimmy Kimmel?
Disney initially suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! after Kimmel criticized the “MAGA gang,” saying they were “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
Tyler Robinson, 22, has been charged in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr accused Kimmel of misleading viewers by implying Robinson supported former President Donald Trump. Carr pressured ABC to take action, warning in a YouTube appearance that “we can do this the easy way or the hard way.” Hours later, ABC removed Kimmel from the air.
Disney Explains Its Reversal
In its initial statement, Disney said Kimmel’s suspension was meant to “avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country” and that his remarks were “ill-timed and insensitive.”
However, on September 22, after “thoughtful conversations with Jimmy,” Disney announced that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would return on Tuesday.
Stern Defends Free Speech
Before ABC reversed course, Stern had slammed the suspension as “outrageous,” arguing that it went against free speech principles. “This isn’t about whether you like Jimmy or not. If ABC wanted to fire him over ratings, that’s one thing. But they were pressured by the government. We can’t have that—not if we want to live in a democracy,” Stern said on his September 22 broadcast.
