Some people are canceling their subscriptions to Disney+ and Hulu as social media users call for a boycott as part of a backlash over the suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
ABC, owned by Walt Disney, said on Wednesday, Sept. 17, that it will indefinitely stop airing the late-night talk show after Kimmel’s comments about the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk came under harsh criticism from the head of the Federal Communications Commission, USA TODAY reported.
While the move has been celebrated by President Donald Trump and critics of Kimmel and his comments over Kirk, some celebrities, Democratic lawmakers, and labor union SAG-AFTRA characterized the decision as a threat to free speech, and that sentiment is echoed among some of the social media users calling for a boycott.
Among the hashtags being used online are “BoycottABC” and “BoycottDisney.” Some users post screenshots of their canceled subscriptions, including those for Disney-owned Hulu. Other users are also calling for the boycott of Nexstar Media Group Inc. as well, which previously announced that both its owned and partner stations affiliated with the ABC television network would preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” for “the foreseeable future.”
Walt Disney, Hulu, and Nexstar did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Desert Sun.
“Boycott everything affiliated with ABC and Disney,” according to a post that has 56,000 likes on X. Another post with nearly 30,000 likes called for the boycott of Disney and Nexstar and said “hit them where it hurts: the $$$.”
It comes as an online petition calling for the boycott of ABC and demanding the return of Kimmel’s show, which garnered nearly 60,000 signatures as of the morning of Friday, Sept. 19.
“Let us show ABC and the nation that we support the first amendment and Jimmy Kimmel’s freedom to express his opinions, and use his platform to speak for our shared opinions, just as the President does,” according to the petition’s description on Change.org. “Let’s show ABC, their advertisers and their cowering executives that Americans will not stand by as free speech is eroded.”
Poll shows more Americans disapprove of Jimmy Kimmel suspension
A new YouGov poll found that 42% of U.S. adults strongly disapprove of Kimmel’s show being taken off the air.
More specifically, the question posed was, “Do you approve or disapprove of ABC taking Jimmy Kimmel off the air after the FCC chair criticized comments by Kimmel related to Charlie Kirk and suggested the FCC could take action?”
Hours before ABC confirmed it was pulling “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” from the air late Wednesday, Sept. 17, the head of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, appeared on a conservative commentator’s podcast, during which he condemned comments Kimmel made days prior about Charlie Kirk, USA TODAY reported.
The poll was conducted on Thursday, Sept. 18, and surveyed 2927 U.S. adults. It found that 26% strongly approved, 9% somewhat approved, 8% slightly disapproved, and 16% were not sure.
Another YouGov poll found that 44% said the government is currently the biggest threat to free speech. Other options were activist groups (17%), social media (12%), universities (6%), and corporations (4%). In addition, 15% were not sure, and 3% said none of the above.
The poll, conducted on Friday, Sept. 19, surveyed 3,010 U.S. adults.
USA TODAY reporters Anthony Robledo and Kathryn Palmer contributed to this story.
Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Are people canceling Disney, Hulu subscriptions? Poll shows upset over Jimmy Kimmel
Reporting by Paris Barraza, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
