The iconic Mickey Mouse logo adorned Walt Disney’s headquarters in Burbank, California, but it also made an appearance on protest signs outside the studio. Demonstrators accused Disney executives of cowardice for suspending Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talkshow in response to pressure from the Trump administration. This followed threatening comments made by Trump’s Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr about regulatory consequences for Kimmel’s remarks regarding Trump and the MAGA movement’s response to Charlie Kirk’s killing.
Many Americans condemned the incident as a government attack on free speech, while others criticized Disney and its CEO Bob Iger for capitulating to the Trump administration’s demands for censorship. Protests were held outside Disney’s headquarters, ABC’s studios in New York, and the Hollywood studio hosting Kimmel’s show, with participants chanting slogans like “Kimmel must stay, Iger must go” and “Down with the FCC.”
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) joined the protests, calling for Kimmel’s return and criticizing the violation of free speech rights. Demonstrators carried signs referencing the Trump administration’s attack on popular entertainers amidst economic struggles and drawing parallels between the controversy and the fight against authoritarianism depicted in Disney’s Star Wars spinoff show, Andor. Burbank city council member Konstantine Anthony also joined the protests, carrying a sign that read, “Did you even watch Andor?”
The WGA vowed to continue speaking up and putting pressure on Disney and ABC until Kimmel is back on the air.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/18/jimmy-kimmel-protest-disney-abc-burbank
