Disney Reportedly Faces Huge Subscriber Drop After Suspending Kimmel: The Numbers Revealed
Disney is reportedly seeing a huge drop in subscribers after ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! following his September 15 monologue.
According to reporter Marisa Kabas, founder of The Handbasket, over 1.7 million people canceled their Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN subscriptions between September 17 and 23. Kabas added that this represents a 436 percent increase over the usual churn rate for the services. Disney has not responded to requests for comment.
The cancellations come after Kimmel criticized MAGA supporters & Trump regarding the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kimmel said, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
ABC, owned by Disney, acted after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, criticized Kimmel’s comments. Carr said they were “appearing to directly mislead the American public.” Nexstar Media also stopped airing Kimmel’s show on its ABC affiliate stations, fueling backlash online.
Many viewers shared screenshots of canceled subscriptions with hashtags like #CancelDisney and #CancelDisneyPlus.
One fan wrote, “I canceled @hulu & @DisneyPlus immediately… My reason—ABC caving to Trump & his Fascism. Hurt ’em where it counts, their wallets!” Another added, “Our annual trip to Disney Orlando won’t happen… I’m putting my money where my mouth is.”
Celebrities joined in the protest as well. Tatiana Maslany, star of Disney+’s She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, urged fans on Instagram to “Cancel your (Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN) subscriptions.” Former Supernatural actor Misha Collins shared on X that he would cancel his Disney+ subscription “indefinitely.”
Some conservative viewers were upset with Kimmel’s implication that the person charged with Kirk’s death was connected to MAGA. Authorities had not confirmed a motive as of September 19.
Carr called Kimmel’s remarks “the sickest conduct possible” on a YouTube interview with Benny Johnson.
Kimmel’s show has since returned on air but it seems that enough damage was done.
This controversy has sparked broader discussions about free speech, political influence, and the role of media companies. Disney now faces the challenge of responding to public outrage while balancing its corporate and political relationships.
This shows how quickly social media and public opinion can impact a company’s bottom line. Disney’s next moves will be closely watched, and it will be interesting to see if subscriber numbers recover. What do you think about the cancellations and Kimmel’s suspension? Share your thoughts in the comments.