Marvel Stars Lead Hollywood Revolt Over Jimmy Kimmel Suspension, Call for Disney Boycott
The indefinite suspension of «Jimmy Kimmel Live!» by Disney-owned ABC has ignited a firestorm across Hollywood, prompting a powerful and united front of A-list stars, directors, and comedians to rally in support of the late-night host. The backlash has now escalated far beyond messages of solidarity, with some of Disney's own Marvel stars calling for a consumer boycott of the media giant's platforms and one major creator threatening a work stoppage.
The controversy began after ABC pulled Kimmel's show following his comments about the suspect in the Charlie Kirk shooting, a move that came after pressure from FCC chairman Brendan Carr and affiliate network operator Nexstar. Now, what started as a network decision has morphed into a full-blown battle over free speech.
Marvel's Mutiny: Stars Urge Fans to «Cancel Your Disney+»
In a stunning turn of events, some of the biggest names from Disney's flagship Marvel Cinematic Universe are leading the charge against their own studio.
High-Profile Allies Defend «Free Speech and Democracy»
The support for Kimmel extends across Hollywood. Pedro Pascal, who is set to star in Marvel's upcoming The Fantastic Four, posted a photo with Kimmel, writing, “Standing with you Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and adding the hashtags “Defend free speech” and “defend democracy.”
Kerry Washington, a longtime ABC and Hulu collaborator from shows like Scandal, penned a personal message of support. “You’ve always supported me, my work and my voice for years… Now it’s my turn to stand with and for you,” she wrote, calling the suspension «not just unfair, it’s unjust.»
A Line in the Sand: Creator Damon Lindelof Threatens to Walk
The situation escalated significantly when Damon Lindelof, the acclaimed creator of Lost and Watchmen, drew a line in the sand. Lindelof, who has been attached to a Star Wars project for Disney, declared that if the suspension isn't lifted, he «can’t in good conscience work for the company» that imposed it. This makes him the first high-profile creator to threaten to sever professional ties with Disney over the controversy.
The Comedy Community Unites: «They Target Us All»
Hundreds of comedians have signed a powerful joint statement condemning the suspension as a threat to all performers. The statement, signed by names like Jimmy Fallon, Chelsea Handler, Rosie O’Donnell, and Margaret Cho, reads, “When the government targets one of us, they target us all… They strip away the basic right every person deserves: to speak freely, question boldly and laugh loudly.”
Handler took it a step further in a TikTok video, comparing the pressure from government agencies to «McCarthyism, which is one of the ugliest times in American history.»
From Social Media to the Streets: Protests and Billboards
The support for Kimmel is not just happening online. Protests have been organized at both the «Jimmy Kimmel Live!» studio in Hollywood and outside Disney's gates in Burbank. Furthermore, a mobile billboard truck commissioned by MoveOn Civic Action is circulating in Los Angeles with messages like “we’re with Jimmy and free speech” and “dictators and executives aren’t funny — Jimmy Kimmel is.”
The united and escalating backlash from all corners of the entertainment industry has turned Kimmel's suspension into a major crisis for Disney, posing a critical test of corporate resolve in the face of a rebellion led by its own stars.
