By Diana George

Copyright timesnownews

Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner did not hold back on his criticism following ABC’s abrupt suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, calling out what he described as a troubling lack of leadership in defending free speech. “Where has all the leadership gone? If not for university presidents, law firm managing partners, and corporate chief executives standing up against bullies, who then will step up for the first amendment?” Eisner wrote on X on Friday, September 19. He added, “The ‘suspending indefinitely’ of Jimmy Kimmel immediately after the Chairman of the FCC’s aggressive yet hollow threatening of the Disney Company is yet another example of out-of-control intimidation.” Eisner, who led Disney from 1984 to 2005, did not shy away from criticism noting, “Maybe the Constitution should have said, ‘Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, except in one’s political or financial self-interest.'” While defending Kimmel, Eisner also praised the host’s talent: “By-the-way, for the record, this ex-CEO finds Jimmy Kimmel very talented and funny.” The network’s decision to halt Kimmel’s talk show came on September 17. The decision came shortly after Nexstar Media announced it would stop airing episodes on its ABC affiliate stations and amid apparent pressure from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee. Carr, along with Nexstar Media and Sinclair Broadcast Group, condemned comments Kimmel made on the September 15 episode concerning the fatal shooting of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. It also comes as Nexstar Media Group moves toward completing a $6.2 billion merger with Tegna, which requires FCC approval. Concerns have been raised that the deal could increase Nexstar’s local TV ownership to more than 39% of US households, sparking fears of media consolidation, according to Business Insider. Bob Iger, who led Disney from 2005 to 2020 and returned as CEO in 2022, has not commented publicly on the suspension. Since ABC’s announcement, protests in support of Kimmel have spread nationwide, from New York City to California, including Hollywood and Burbank, where Walt Disney Studios is headquartered. Demonstrators argue the suspension represents an infringement on free speech, and many have posted photos on social media showing cancellations of Disney Plus and Hulu subscriptions in solidarity with Kimmel. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News and around the World.