The insane amount of money Disney actually lost days after Jimmy Kimmel’s brutal suspension

Disney has lost a huge amount of money after Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show was suddenly pulled from the air. The long-running talk show host was suspended last week over comments about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Charlie Kirk was shot dead at a Utah Valley University event. Police later arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who, officials said, had a history of posting political content. Kirk’s death quickly became a lightning rod in American politics, with both sides blaming the other for fuelling division.

On 15 September, Kimmel joked about Trump’s odd response during Jimmy Kimmel Live. He then added that Trump grieved “like a four-year-old mourning a goldfish.”

Not a big fan of Jimmy Kimmel, but if you think his show should be canceled for this, you’re a hack and a total fraud who should never pretend to care about free speech pic.twitter.com/FSiktbva6y

— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) September 17, 2025

Some viewers found the comments distasteful, while others saw them as typical late-night humour. But the fallout was swift. ABC suspended the show indefinitely, saying Kimmel’s remarks were “offensive at a sensitive time.”

Affiliate broadcasters such as Sinclair and Nexstar refused to air Kimmel’s return episode and instead replaced it with news coverage.

Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live! across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming. Discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return. pic.twitter.com/beGC6VID2x

— Sinclair, Inc. (@WeAreSinclair) September 22, 2025

This meant millions of viewers were lost overnight.

So, how much money did Disney actually lose?

According to Market Watch, Disney shares dropped 2.31 per cent in just five days. Al Jazeera reported the company lost almost $5 billion in market value overnight. Analysts said the risk goes beyond a short-term dip: Losing loyal viewers could mean fewer subscriptions, cancelled Disney Plus bundles, and organised boycotts.

Now, to recover, Disney Plus prices are set to rise from 21 October. According to the Independent, the ad-supported tier will increase from $9.99 to $11.99 per month, while the ad-free option will jump from $15.99 to $18.99. Hulu with ads is also going up to $11.99. Viewers already upset about Kimmel’s suspension may see the hikes as yet another reason to walk away.

I’m canceling my @DisneyPlus subscription “indefinitely.” pic.twitter.com/QpOeDj3LhZ

— Misha Collins (@mishacollins) September 18, 2025

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Kimmel returned to air on yesterday, 23 September, and opened the show in tears. He grew emotional, insisting it was never his intention to “make light” of Kirk’s murder, before joking that Trump’s attempt to cancel him had only boosted his ratings.

Right now, Disney is caught in the middle. Some stations still refuse to air Kimmel, stock prices remain shaky, and streaming fees are climbing. If viewers continue to see Disney as bending to political pressure, the long-term cost could be far greater than the billions already lost.

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