Andor‘s Dan Gilroy has some strong words reserved for Disney, the parent company that owns ABC, which recently pulled the popular late-night show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, from the air. Amid public outrage and uproar, fans are boycotting Disney and Hulu, all while decrying the attack on free speech.
Now Gilroy, too, has issued a lengthy statement, citing “Disney suspended Jimmy Kimmel for speaking his mind.” This is clearly meant to draw criticism and highlight the House of Mouse’s role in censoring free speech (via X).
Disney now stands at a crossroads: terminate Kimmel’s contract and become pavement for the road to a brave new Trumpian world; or stand for the First Amendment and take the onslaught. There’s not much at stake, just free speech, the oxygen that sustains life in this town.
Though Hollywood’s ongoing dilemma against politics has been a long and winding road, Kimmel’s suspension hits doubly hard on the heels of the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s long-running talk show.
Andor’s Dan Gilroy on Why Jimmy Kimmel’s Suspension Should Scare Us
Dan Gilroy’s statement against Disney oscillates between sentimental and scathing, as the Andor creator delivers a no-holds-barred statement on why the Kimmel suspension should scare us. He also goes on to draw shocking parallels between the authoritarian regime shown in Andor, a fictional story set in a galaxy far, far away, and the very real and tangible here and now.
However, what is even more concerning, specifically for those currently working in the entertainment industry, is the risk of losing one’s voice as opposed to sacrificing one’s integrity:
Artists are censored first because they fear us most… The majority in Hollywood believed their job was entertainment — the bolder souls attempted to inject theme and commentary — but for everyone this has suddenly become Westworld real.
But he doesn’t just stop there. Like his show’s hero, Cassian Andor, Gilroy rises to the challenge and delivers a rousing closing argument. He claims that despite the conflict, fans must speak up and stand on the right side of history.
Our industry faces the most sophisticated, venomous, creeping evil in America’s history. There’s no standing above this conflict. No impartial observers. If you’re on the sidelines you’ve made a choice and must live with it. Their goal is to instill fear, to make you feel helpless, hopeless, to break you down. Don’t let them. Educate yourself. Organize. Speak truth to authority.
Fans are now organizing protests all around the country and boycotting Disney+ and Hulu streaming services as a sign of solidarity for Jimmy Kimmel, their belief in upholding the First Amendment, and to speak out against media censorship.
The Dark Side of the Force: Who’s Behind the Jimmy Kimmel Live! Suspension?
On 17 September 2025, fans were shocked by the news of the Emmy-winning talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live! being indefinitely suspended. The news came in light of a series of quips made by its host about the late right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk and President Trump’s supporters, whom he referred to as the “MAGA gang” [The New York Times].
Over the next few days, increasing pressure from the Federal Communications Commission began to muddy the waters for ABC. Trump-appointed FCC chair Brendan Carr not only threatened to revoke broadcast licenses from stations that were airing the Kimmel show, but also went on a right-wing podcast to warn ABC of serious consequences: “do this the easy or hard way.”
Several insiders revealed to CNN that, in light of Carr’s remarks, employees and staff members at Disney began receiving death threats, and their personal information was leaked on social media. A source claimed, “This isn’t just about Jimmy Kimmel Live. It’s about all of ABC and all of the shows and all employees,” citing concerns about their safety and privacy.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson tried to divert attention away from the FCC’s autocratic warnings and shine the spotlight on Kimmel himself (Reuters):
Jimmy Kimmel is free to make whatever bad jokes he wants, but a private company is under no obligation to lose money producing an unpopular show. Jimmy Kimmel’s terrible product isn’t a free speech problem; it’s a talent problem.
Meanwhile, Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group, two media giants that own 32 and 38 ABC affiliate stations, respectively, scrambled in the aftermath of the FCC warnings, leading the discussion on pulling Kimmel off the air.
Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar’s broadcasting division, said Kimmel’s comments about Kirk’s death were “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse.” Meanwhile, Sinclair called on Kimmel to apologize to Kirk’s family and make a “meaningful personal donation” to his political organization. Further rubbing salt on the wound, Sinclair said its ABC stations will air a tribute to Kirk on 19 Sept. in Kimmel’s now-vacant time slot. [Los Angeles Times]
The suspension drew criticism from major public figures, including ex-Disney CEO Michael Eisner and Jon Stewart.
Dan Gilroy’s show, Andor, is now streaming on Disney+.
