The Daily Seat | The Deep Seat
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Jimmy Kimmel, Disney, and the Boundaries of Speech
Welcome back — it’s Tuesday. Wherever you’re reading this, take a breath and take a deep seat with me. Here’s what we’re sitting with tonight:
Jimmy Kimmel’s Suspension and Return
Last week, ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel “indefinitely” after a monologue about the Charlie Kirk shooting. This week, he’s back.
- The trigger: FCC Chair Brendan Carr went on a podcast, called Kimmel a liar, and warned Disney: “We can do this the easy way or the hard way.”
- Disney’s response: pulled Kimmel before his next monologue could air, fearing backlash and advertiser flight.
The suspension lasted less than a week, but affiliates are divided. Sinclair won’t carry the show “for now.” Nexstar is wavering. Translation: even if Disney clears him, many Americans won’t see him.
The Larger Battle Over Speech
Commentary split fast:
- MSNBC’s Ari Melber: Disney’s reversal = a win for free speech.
- Conservative outlets: mocked the “indefinite” suspension.
- Colbert, Stewart, Meyers: cheered Kimmel’s comeback.
- International press: framed it as political pressure on U.S. comedy.
But the real story isn’t comedy — it’s power. The FCC stepped into political speech, and Disney caved instantly. Not because it had to, but because advertisers and regulators weighed heavier than the First Amendment.
A Lineage of Silenced Speech
This moment sits in a long line of speech fights:
- George Carlin (1972): Arrested for “Seven Dirty Words.” Case tossed, but the chill stuck.
- Howard Stern (1990–2004): FCC fines exceeded $2.5M — for talking about sex.
- Janet Jackson (2004): Half-second wardrobe malfunction → live TV delay mandates nationwide.
Each case shifted boundaries of what was “allowed” — from courts, to regulators, to corporate boardrooms.
What Free Speech Means in 2025
Legally, the First Amendment protects against government censorship. Corporations like Disney can suspend whoever they want. But when government pressure meets corporate compliance, the cultural cost is bigger than the legal one.
- Unconstitutional? No.
- Un-American? Yes. Because it signals that speech lives or dies based on regulators, shareholders, and affiliates.
The Bottom Line
Kimmel’s return isn’t about one late-night host. It’s about the calculation every performer, journalist, or creator makes: weighing the laugh against the liability. That alone changes comedy — and culture.
Free speech isn’t supposed to be negotiable. Once it becomes a bargaining chip, the foundation cracks.
That’s The Deep Seat.
Take care of yourselves, and I’ll see you tomorrow at noon for The Pattern Report.
— Kala & The Press Co.
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