Jimmy Kimmel Endorses Dana Walden for Disney CEO, Stays Mum on His Late-Night Career Plans

In a recent comprehensive interview, his first since a recent controversy, Jimmy Kimmel shared his insights on the past month’s events, his views on who should next lead Disney, and whether he would consider having former President Donald Trump as a guest on his show.

However, Kimmel steered clear of speculating about his own future in late-night television.

At the Bloomberg Screentime talk, Kimmel detailed the sequence of events following his remarks concerning the murderer of Charlie Kirk, which sparked significant backlash. He acknowledged Dana Walden, Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment, for her crucial role in navigating the crisis.

Kimmel expressed that he didn’t perceive his comments as problematic but criticized the way they were misrepresented by conservative media outlets.

He described having “really productive discussions” with Disney CEO Bob Iger and Walden following the decision to temporarily suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live!. “I’ve known these individuals for a long time, and hold them in high regard. We all aimed for a resolution that would be beneficial for everyone involved. Honestly, I disrupted Dana’s weekend—it was just a flurry of non-stop calls. But I think the outcome, which was ultimately very positive, wouldn’t have been possible without those extensive conversations with Dana, helping me process everything and see others’ perspectives as I can be quite impulsive,” he explained.

Later in the conversation, Kimmel voiced his support for Walden as the potential next CEO of Disney. Though he modestly joked about not being part of such high-level discussions, he affirmed, “It would be imprudent to answer that question, but I deeply admire Dana Walden and think she has performed exceptionally. The recent challenges faced by my superiors at Disney were highly unjust, and no one should be subjected to such circumstances.”

Despite frequently discussing his career prospects prior to contract negotiations, Kimmel refrained from commenting on whether he will remain on his show after his current contract expires next year. “I’ve often speculated about leaving after each of the last three contracts, claiming each would be my last. I’ve learned to keep my plans private as it tends to unsettle my team,” he remarked.

Kimmel disclosed that the budget for these late-night shows is about $120 million annually but questioned the necessity for such high costs.

“There’s no real reason these programs should be discontinued. They originated as a means to secure high-profile talent practically for free under the guise of promotion. So, the notion that they require a $120 million budget is ludicrous,” he added.

When questioned about potentially inviting FCC chairman Brendan Carr or Donald Trump to his show, he responded, “Absolutely, I would love to have Trump appear on the show.”

Kimmel also discussed the success of his show on YouTube. “My show was never tailored for YouTube. I’m acutely aware that ABC funds the show, and YouTube doesn’t contribute financially yet profits substantially from it. However, the platform has been fantastic as ultimately, you want your work to reach as many people as possible.”

He acknowledged that while this might have impacted traditional TV ratings, the broader accessibility and visibility in other countries provided by YouTube were more significant advantages.