Almost immediately after ABC announced the temporary suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, social media erupted with calls to boycott Disney and all its entities. According to an independent journalist’s report, 1.7 million subscribers canceled Disney-owned services, including Disney+, Hulu and ESPN, in response.
Cancellations tracked to Kimmel suspension week
Marisa Kabas, founder of The Handbasket, posted Monday on Bluesky that sources confirmed the cancellations happened between Sept. 17 and 23. That window matches the start and end dates of Kimmel’s suspension.
Kabas did not identify the sources behind the data.
Subscription hikes add fuel to fire
On Sept. 24, Disney announced upcoming price increases. Starting Oct. 21, the Disney+ ad-supported plan will rise from $9.99 to $11.99 per month. The ad-free version will increase to $18.99 monthly.
While NFL+ prices will remain steady, other bundles will become more expensive:
- The Disney+ and Hulu ad package will rise by $2.
- The Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN bundle will increase by $3.
- Packages that include Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max will also cost $3 more each month.
Marketing expert weighs in
Straight Arrow News previously spoke with Koen Pauwels, a distinguished professor of marketing at Northeastern University, about the growing boycott movement.
“You can go and protest, you can write letters to your representatives,” Pauwels said. “But I think a boycott is really when you feel that you have exhausted these options.”
He added that even if a company walks back a controversial move, reputational damage can linger.
“Even when a company reinstates something, it can leave a bad taste in consumers’ mouths,” he said.
One user expressed a similar sentiment, writing, “Great..should never have been pulled off the air. Not giving ABC/Disney one dime of my money!”
Viewership surges after Kimmel return
Despite ongoing disruptions, Kimmel’s return to air brought in 6.3 million viewers, according to preliminary Nielsen ratings. The number does not include streaming data, which may increase the total.
That audience was more than three times the typical viewership for “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” — a jump that occurred even while Sinclair and Nexstar stations were still preempting the show.
Together, those broadcasters represent about 20% of ABC affiliates. Both companies confirmed on Sept. 26 that they would resume airing Kimmel’s program.
Kimmel’s return also made waves on YouTube. According to the network, his monologue became the most-viewed clip in the 23-year history of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
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