Kimmel staffer says show 'can't imagine' returning as suspension amid MAGA backlash

A former Jimmy Kimmel Live! staffer told Rick Ellis in his Too Much TV newsletter that they can't imagine a scenario in which the late-night show returns. "I want to think it will. But I can't imagine a scenario in which that happens. Even if Jimmy was willing to publicly apologize and donate money to whatever ghoulish conservative group that is demanding it... MAGA people will never be happy. It will never be enough," the staffer said in the interview. Kimmel's show was pulled on Wednesday after the host's remarks about Charlie Kirk's shooter. Demonstrators protest the suspension outside the El Capitan Theatre, where the show was filmed, in Hollywood, California, on Friday.

The staffer said Disney would look at the situation and decide it's cheaper to buy out the rest of his contract and replace the show with reruns of Modern Family and Judge Judy. Somehow, they'll convince themselves the worst is behind them. Until a day or two pass and they find themselves having to defend Whoopi and the other women of The View. And no one wants to be in that position, the staffer continued.

Asked if they believed Kimmel's critics had a point, the staffer said no. "The Trump folks are like that crooked cop who wants to pull over a driver and waits until they make some slight mistake. 'Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Black Guy, you didn't come to a complete stop and look both ways at that last stop sign.' That's our show. We were always a running stop away from unemployment," the staffer told Ellis.

The staffer added that everything around Kimmel's show had "sucked," and said that Kimmel had gotten a lot of threats and attention from Trump supporters in recent years. Kimmel, who had been active in comments about MAGA, criticized the MAGA faction during the show on Monday, saying, "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." The staffer said they didn't think critics had a point. "The Trump folks are like that crooked cop who wants to pull over a driver and waits until they make some slight mistake. 'Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Black Guy, you didn't come to a complete stop and look both ways at that last stop sign.' That's our show. We were always a running stop away from unemployment," the staffer told Ellis.

The staffer also described the broader atmosphere around Kimmel's show as having "sucked" and noted that the host had drawn threats and attention from Trump supporters in recent years. The staffer added that working for Kimmel had been great, but criticized Disney for signs of what they described as a willingness to cut ties if it cost attendance at Disney World or jeopardized a bonus pool. "Sir Iger and the ABC executives would cut us loose in a second if they thought something we did might hurt attendance at Disney World or cost anyone their annual bonus," the staffer said.

Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The interview appeared in Fox News coverage of media and culture. The broadcast and print notes accompany a period of controversy surrounding Kimmel and his program, reflecting the broader tensions in late-night entertainment and corporate responses to political backlash.