Howard Stern blasts ABC over Kimmel suspension, says he canceled Disney+ subscription

Howard Stern blasted ABC over Jimmy Kimmel's suspension on his radio show Monday, saying the move amounted to political pressure and could set a dangerous precedent. He told listeners he was canceling his Disney+ subscription to signal his disapproval and said he had reached out to Kimmel to check on his well-being personally.

Kimmel was suspended indefinitely on Wednesday after accusing conservatives of reaching "new lows" in trying to pin Charlie Kirk's alleged shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, to a left-wing ideology, even as prosecutors reaffirmed those ties in Tuesday's indictment. "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," Kimmel said.

The suspension prompted backlash from liberals, including MSNBC host Chris Hayes, who called it "the latest chapter in Donald Trump's ongoing campaign to crack down on free speech" and described it as the "most straightforward attack on free speech from state actors" he had seen.

Stern's remarks came as he remained with SiriusXM in September amid ongoing speculation about his show's future. He said he was "very happy at Sirius" and did not say whether his contract, due to expire at the end of 2025, would be renewed. He noted that his broader protest extended to Kimmel's suspension and that Disney has not responded to requests for comment.

Disney did not immediately respond to Fox News' request for comment. The company has faced scrutiny over its handling of the incident, which has fed into a broader national conversation about free speech and the role of corporate influence in political discourse. Stern's remarks, and the visible support from some liberal commentators, underscored the ongoing debate about the boundaries of press freedom and the impact on viewers and subscribers.