In a stunning twist that has Hollywood buzzing, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel is now rumored to be preparing a $1 billion lawsuit against Disney for wrongful termination, and insiders insist that the case is practically airtight
Experts share if Jimmy Kimmel has a case for a suit after being indefinitely suspended for comments made about the death of Charlie Kirk
© ABC via Getty Images
Jimmy Kimmel Live! was indefinitely suspended on Wednesday, September 17 after the host, Jimmy Kimmel, made comments on the death of Charlie Kirk, the conservative political commentator. Kirk was fatally shot during a speaking event in Utah on September 10. During his episode on Monday, Jimmy said: “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.” He went on to add that he found President Trump’s reaction to Kirk’s death odd.
ABC‘s decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been widely criticized as an act of censorship. Jimmy’s fellow late night host Stephen Colbert, whose show will conclude in May 2026, told his audience: “I’ll say this for my network. They wouldn’t have done this. Now, regardless of what you think, that has already been done and how that looks, this is weak.
This is blatant censorship.”
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The Writers Guild of America has organized multiple protests against ABC’s decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel
How did the Trump administration react?
After the comments Jimmy made on Monday, September 15, members of the Trump administration argued that his remarks were part of an effort to lie to the American public. Brendan Carr, the head of the Federal Communications Commission told Benny Johnson on
The Benny Show podcast that he was looking at “remedies,” and that “we can do this the easy way or the hard way.”
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Jimmy’s first public outing since the decision was on Thursday, September 18
What is the Federal Communications Commission?
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent U.S. government agency that works to regulate radio and television. It’s directed by commissioners who are appointed by the U.S. Senate. Along with Brendan Carr,
Olivia Trusty, and Anna Gomez serve as commissioners. Currently two of the three commissioners – Brendan and Olivia – belong to the Republican party.
© Disney General Entertainment Con
The former president spoke out in Jimmy’s defense
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What is free speech?
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Over the years, courts have argued that the First Amendment’s protection includes rights against the government pressuring third parties to engage in censorship.
HELLO! spoke with Jim Williams, the Lead Partner at Burnett & Williams, who said: “[ABC‘s decision] certainly has a chilling effect on free speech as losing your job is draconian
.” He continued: “The most interesting issue here is whether there was ‘jawboning,’ which is the informal use of power or influence by a government official to pressure a private company to take an action the government cannot legally compel.” Jim explained: “The elements of such a claim are certainly present here, but it’s a high legal bar to prove that as Disney can cite various reasons for its decision besides improper government influence.”
Can Jimmy Kimmel sue?
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Jimmy has won 3 Primetime Emmy Awards for his work on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
When asked what legal claims Jimmy could bring to
Disney/ABC, Jim Williams told HELLO!: “It depends on the contract and the state law governing it, and whether there’s an arbitration agreement forcing the case out of any court, which is typical in the entertainment industry.” Jim continued: “We’d need to see the specific clause related to termination and the network’s right to control content.”
Jim explained that Jimmy could bring a wrongful termination suit, if the suspension becomes permanent, adding that “[his suspension] seems to be temporary from the press release, so probably not much Jimmy can do at this point, but wait
.” Per Reuters, Jimmy could also sue the FCC for free speech violations, but it would be tough to win. He and his team would have to prove that Brendan Carr coerced
ABC to pull him off the air.
Trump Receives Raucous Welcome at Ryder Cup, Offers Words of Encouragement to U.S. Team
Regardless of one’s political views, two facts about former President Donald Trump are widely acknowledged: he is unapologetically pro-America, and he has a well-documented passion for golf. These traits made his appearance at the 2025 Ryder Cup in Farmingdale, New York, a natural fit.
The Ryder Cup, one of golf’s most prestigious events, pits Team USA against Team Europe in a high-stakes competition that draws global attention. For Trump, the tournament is more than a sporting event—it represents a fusion of national pride and his lifelong love of the game. That enthusiasm is shared within the Trump family: his granddaughter, Kai, currently plays collegiate golf at the University of Miami on a scholarship.
Both Trump and Kai were in attendance at the Ryder Cup this year and were greeted with a boisterous ovation from the crowd. Spectators enthusiastically chanted “USA!” as they arrived, signaling the president’s popularity among many fans at the tournament.
During the event, Trump took a moment to offer encouragement to the U.S. players, delivering a brief pep talk as Team USA faced challenges on the course. The scene underscored the intersection of sport, celebrity, and politics, highlighting the unique atmosphere of the Ryder Cup when it hosts figures of national prominence.
A video of the reception captures the energy of the moment, illustrating the fervor with which the crowd celebrated both the event and Trump’s presence.
The crowd’s enthusiasm extended beyond cheering for Team USA, with chants directed at Trump himself. White House Communications Advisor Margo Martin shared footage of the moment, capturing the raucous reception and highlighting the president’s popularity among Ryder Cup fans.
Trump also took time to meet with Team USA players, including Bryson DeChambeau, Ben Griffin, Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, and Keegan Bradley. In a lighthearted moment, Spaun even mimicked the president’s signature dance moves, adding a playful touch to the interaction.
As Trump met with the players, it was evident he was offering a pep talk following a challenging start for Team USA. Europe held a 3-1 lead after the morning round, according to ESPN, and the afternoon sessions did little to shift momentum, leaving Team USA trailing 2.5-5.5 at the time of publication.
Team Europe entered the 2025 Ryder Cup as the defending champion, having defeated Team USA in 2023. That status gives Europe a slight edge: they need 14 points to retain the cup, while Team USA must reach 14.5 points to claim victory.
The tournament continues through Sunday, and despite Trump’s pep talk, Team USA faces a significant deficit to overcome.
However, there is a brighter note for U.S. golf fans. According to ESPN, the United States reclaimed the Junior Ryder Cup from Europe, reversing last year’s loss. U.S. captain Suzy Whaley praised the young team’s determination: “We were down first thing this morning for a long time, and these kids just fought so hard and they got the job done. They saw a sea of blue on the leaderboard and knew exactly where they stood. They showed grit, perseverance and did not give up.”
