Howard Stern Critiques ABC and Jimmy Kimmel’s Situation

Howard Stern, the well-known radio personality, expressed his thoughts regarding ABC’s handling of Jimmy Kimmel’s show after the network cut ties with certain affiliates, including Nexstar and Sinclair. He been quite vocal about this, particularly after Kimmel made some controversial remarks, referring to a conservative commentator as part of the “Maga Gang.”

On his SiriusXM program, Stern stated, “I can no longer hold my mouth shut. I feel obligated to speak out because, well, things are spiraling out of control.” He went on to criticize ABC’s actions as “stupid and horrifying,” suggesting that the situation surrounding Kimmel was clear enough that his audience didn’t necessarily need his perspective to see it.

Interestingly, Stern didn’t directly address the backlash Kimmel faced from an ABC affiliate after allegedly misrepresenting facts related to the accusations against conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. According to John Norte, Kimmel had publicly misled the audience. Since the incident, neither Kimmel nor ABC has made an effort to retract or correct these statements.

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson responded, clarifying that the issue at hand isn’t about free speech. “Kimmel can make any jokes he wants, but private companies aren’t required to produce shows that underperform financially,” she said, highlighting that Kimmel’s ratings have plummeted significantly. Jackson pointed out that since he moved to a new timeslot, his ratings have dropped over 63%, and he lost more than 43% of his audience following President Trump’s election.

In a more personal tone, Stern remarked, “It might sound silly, but I’m canceling my Disney+ subscription.” It appears that ABC’s leadership, including Dana Walden and Rob Mills, is at a loss regarding Kimmel’s future now that he hasn’t appeared since last Thursday. Rumor has it a meeting to discuss the matter is scheduled for later this week, but for now, Kimmel and his team are on paid leave.