Howard Stern Leads Stars in Disney+ Cancellations Over Jimmy Kimmel Suspension

Howard Stern canceled his Disney+ subscription in protest after ABC and its parent company Disney pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! from the air indefinitely. The move surfaced as the longtime radio host, 71, broke his silence Monday morning, telling listeners he could no longer stay quiet and that he was taking a stand against what he called an overreach that threatens free expression.

Stern said he had spoken with Kimmel since the suspension, focusing on his friend's well-being rather than his future with ABC. 'I just know when the government begins to interfere, when the government says, I'm not pleased with you, so we're gonna orchestrate a way to silence you, it's the wrong direction for our country,' Stern said. 'And I should know, I've been involved in something like this. Now ABC is put in the same position and it's unfortunate they even have to be in this.'

The exchange underscored a broader wave of commentary across entertainment and politics, with Stern and others framing the matter as a test of free speech and government or corporate overreach into media. On SiriusXM, Andy Cohen said he was 'very upset' about 'this Jimmy Kimmel mess,' suggesting that the episode raised questions about checks and balances in a blurred public-private sphere. Cohen added that, in his view, defending free speech sometimes requires taking heat for defending controversial viewpoints, and he invoked a provocative hypothetical: 'Imagine if Biden was going after Greg Gutfeld to lose his broadcast license. That’s called free speech. Silencing your enemies is un-American.'

Cynthia Nixon, the Emmy-winning star of And Just Like That, also weighed in, canceling both Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions in solidarity with Kimmel and those who defend free speech. In a viral video, Nixon said, 'They asked me why, I hit other and wrote: Because I believe in the First Amendment. Reinstate Jimmy Kimmel, now.' She added that her family would miss shows like Abbott Elementary and Only Murders in the Building, but argued the First Amendment mattered more.

More than 400 celebrities signed a letter organized by the American Civil Liberties Union condemning 'threats to our freedom of speech' in connection with Kimmel's suspension. Among the signatories were Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, Tom Hanks, Selena Gomez, Pedro Pascal, Natalie Portman, and Robert De Niro. The missive stated that 'Efforts by leaders to pressure artists, journalists, and companies with retaliation for their speech strike at the heart of what it means to live in a free country' and urged a reinstitution of open discourse regardless of political leanings.

Olivia Rodrigo, who launched her career after appearing on Disney+'s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, reposted SAG-AFTRA's statement on the suspension and described the move as 'blatant censorship and abuse of power.' Rodrigo noted her own connections to Disney projects but said the First Amendment stood above all. Singer John Legend, actors Josh Gad, Alison Brie, Jamie Lee Curtis, Halsey and Henry Winkler also joined the online chorus, using their platforms to press for a reinstatement of Kimmel and a defense of free expression. MSNBC host Chris Hayes called the episode 'the most straightforward attack on free speech from state actors I’ve ever seen in my life.'

The discussion extended into political commentary, with former President Donald Trump celebrating the suspension on Truth Social, calling it 'Great News for America' and labeling Kimmel 'ZERO talent' with 'worse ratings than even Colbert.' Trump appeared to contrast the situation with other media figures while a separate clip showed him declining to discuss the event in detail.

Timeline and context surrounding the suspension show a convergence of media-rights dynamics and political rhetoric. Kimmel had drawn attention earlier in the week with remarks about the fatal shooting of a political figure in Utah, prompting responses from some conservatives and media groups that accused him of politicizing the tragedy. Nexstar, a leading station group carrying Kimmel in several markets, pulled the show from its affiliates, and similar actions were taken by Sinclair and others. FCC Chair Brendan Carr has warned of potential repercussions for the kind of commentary that prompted the suspension, though regulatory actions in such cases remain complex and contested. The episode has since become a touchstone in the ongoing debate over free speech, corporate power, and public accountability in media.

As the situation evolves, supporters of Kimmel argue that the episode highlights vulnerabilities in media independence when faced with external pressure, while critics contend the program crossed lines of decency or policy. Disney, ABC, and their affiliates have not disclosed further details about the suspension, leaving negotiations and official statements to guide the next steps for the late-night program and its host. In the meantime, the public discourse surrounding free expression, political neutrality in media, and the responsibilities of corporate titans to their audiences shows no signs of quieting down.