Kimmel Hits Decade-High Ratings Following Trump Controversy: Disney

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel achieved his largest audience in ten years upon returning to US television screens, just a week after being temporarily pulled off the air due to pressure from Donald Trump’s administration, Disney announced on Wednesday.

The comedian had been benched by ABC, owned by Disney, after government officials reportedly threatened to revoke broadcast licences, allegedly in response to comments Kimmel made following the assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.

However, following public outcry and criticism from typically pro-Trump figures who viewed the move as an attempt to suppress free speech, the suspension was reversed. Kimmel returned on Tuesday, delivering a sharp monologue attacking censorship.

“A government threat to silence a comedian the president doesn’t like is anti-American,” Kimmel told viewers.
“The president of the United States made it very clear he wants to see me and the hundreds of people who work here fired from our jobs. Our leader celebrates Americans losing their livelihoods because he can’t take a joke.”

Disney reported that over six million viewers tuned in to Tuesday’s broadcast, despite the show being unavailable to nearly a quarter of American households due to a boycott by companies that own local TV stations.

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This made it the show’s best performance in a decade, Disney confirmed.

During his return, Kimmel mocked Trump’s attempts to remove him from the air: “Well, I do tonight,” he quipped, responding to Trump’s earlier claim that Kimmel “had no talent… he had no ratings.”
“He tried his best to cancel me. Instead, he forced millions of people to watch the show. That backfired bigly.”

Trump, who frequently criticises negative media coverage and targets late-night hosts, had previously celebrated Kimmel’s temporary suspension, calling it “Great news for America.”

The episode highlighted the tension between government pressure and free expression in entertainment, while simultaneously delivering an unexpected ratings boost for the show.