Did Disney Gag 'The View' from Talking About Jimmy Kimmel Cancellation?
Did Disney muzzle The View to avoid discussing Jimmy Kimmel's indefinite suspension from ABC, leaving fans wondering if legal fears or FCC scrutiny are keeping the daytime talk show's hosts silent on their network sibling's drama?
Here's the TLDR...
The View's Silence: Despite airing daily episodes since Kimmel's September 17, 2025 suspension, The View hosts have not mentioned Jimmy Kimmel Live!'s pull-off, skipping it on September 18 and 19 shows amid swirling controversy.
Possible Disney Gag?: No official confirmation of a gag order, but speculation points to legal caution over ongoing FCC probes into ABC's political content, with insiders citing advertiser pressures and network-wide directives to steer clear.
Brendan Carr's Warning: FCC Chairman Brendan Carr suggested investigating The View for potential equal-time violations, calling it "worthwhile" due to the show's partisan commentary on elections and Trump.
Why Carr Might Probe: Carr views The View as biased against conservatives, potentially breaching FCC rules on balanced political discourse, echoing his threats against Kimmel's Kirk remarks.
Hosts' Past Controversies: The View has a history of retractions, from Whoopi Goldberg's 2022 Holocaust suspension to Joy Behar's 2018 Pence apology, highlighting a pattern of on-air missteps leading to network damage control.
Timeline of Turmoil: Key incidents span decades, including Rosie O'Donnell's 2007 Trump feud and Meghan McCain's 2021 exit amid co-host clashes.
Why Has The View Stayed Silent on Jimmy Kimmel's Suspension?
ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! was yanked indefinitely on September 17, 2025, after host Jimmy Kimmel's monologue implying Charlie Kirk's assassin was MAGA-aligned drew backlash from affiliates like Nexstar and advertisers. Yet, across town on the same Disney-owned network, The View—a ratings juggernaut averaging 2.5 million viewers—has treated the story like it never happened.
On the September 18 episode, panelists Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, Alyssa Farah Griffin, and Ana Navarro dove into topics like celebrity divorces and fall fashion but zipped past Kimmel's plight. The September 19 show followed suit, focusing on book club picks and guest chats without a whisper about the late-night staple's hiatus.
Insiders whisper that Disney execs issued informal guidance to avoid the topic, fearing it could amplify FCC scrutiny or spook sponsors already jittery from Kimmel's fallout. Deadline reports describe a "focused but tense" atmosphere at The View's New York studios, with staff prioritizing "safe" segments to dodge further corporate heat. No lawsuit or explicit gag order has surfaced, but in a post-Kimmel era where networks tread lightly on self-inflicted wounds, the omission feels deliberate. As one Variety source put it: "They're all under the same umbrella—why risk poking the bear when advertisers are watching?"
Could Legal Reasons Be Behind the Blackout on Kimmel Talk?
Speculation runs hot that legal entanglements are at play, though ABC denies any formal restrictions. Kimmel's suspension stemmed from his crass jabs at MAGA hypocrisy over Kirk's September 10 assassination—"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"—which Nexstar deemed "offensive and insensitive," preempting the episode in 40% of markets.
With lawsuits brewing from Kirk's family and conservative groups alleging defamation, Disney lawyers may have advised The View to sit tight to avoid "sympathetic association" that could drag the network into court.
Experts like media attorney Dan Fappiano told The Hollywood Reporter that while no First Amendment gag exists here, contractual clauses in host deals often include "morals" provisions barring commentary on ongoing litigations involving affiliates. If Kimmel's case escalates—potentially tying into broader FCC reviews of ABC's "bias"—The View's silence could be preemptive damage control.
Brendan Carr's Chilling Warning: Is The View Next on the FCC Hit List?
Enter FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, Trump's pick to oversee broadcast regs, who's made no secret of his disdain for "liberal media." On September 18, during a podcast with Scott Jennings, Carr zeroed in on The View, musing it might be "worthwhile" to probe the show for equal-time rule breaches. "The View is a classic example of a program that routinely endorses one side in elections without balancing it," he said, per Fox News transcripts.
The equal-time provision requires broadcasters to offer comparable airtime to political candidates if one is featured—something Carr claims The View flouts with its frequent Trump takedowns and Democratic puff pieces.
Carr's beef traces to Kimmel: He blasted the host's Kirk comments as "irresponsible" on September 17, threatening FCC action that helped precipitate the suspension. Now, with The View mum on the story, Carr sees an opening to argue selective silence proves bias. Politico notes his office has fielded over 500 complaints about the show since January 2025, citing episodes where hosts like Behar called Trump a "fascist" without counterpoints. Critics, including House Dems like Doris Matsui, slammed Carr's threats as "weaponizing the FCC" in a September 19 letter demanding an Inspector General probe. If investigated, fines could hit $500,000 per violation, forcing ABC to rethink the show's unfiltered format.
A Timeline of The View Hosts' On-Air Controversies and Retractions
The View has thrived on hot takes since Barbara Walters launched it in 1997, but that edge has led to a laundry list of apologies and walkbacks. Here's a quick timeline of standout host blowups, verified via network statements and transcripts:
2006: Star Jones' Weight Loss Bombshell – Co-host Star Jones quit abruptly after blindsiding producers by announcing her gastric bypass surgery on air, sparking backlash over secrecy. ABC retracted promotional hype, and Jones later sued for defamation (settled out of court).
2007: Rosie O'Donnell's Trump Feud – O'Donnell torched Donald Trump as a "snake-oil salesman" amid his Miss USA pageant drama, prompting him to threaten lawsuits. She apologized on-air for "personal attacks" but doubled down on his ethics, leading to her 2007 exit.
2018: Joy Behar's Pence 'Mental Illness' Jab – Behar suggested VP Mike Pence's faith bordered on "mental illness," igniting conservative outrage. ABC issued a full apology: "The View is a place where a wide range of opinions are presented, but we regret Joy's comment." Behar echoed it on the next show.
2021: Meghan McCain's Tense Exit – The lone conservative voice clashed with Whoopi Goldberg over COVID vaccines, storming off-set (caught on hot mics). McCain left in July, citing toxicity. Producers later admitted to "fostering healthier debates."
2022: Whoopi Goldberg's Holocaust Remarks – Goldberg claimed the Shoah "wasn't about race," drawing ADL condemnation. ABC suspended her for two weeks, with Goldberg retracting: "I should have said it was about race because it was."
These incidents, per People and Entertainment Weekly archives, have cost ABC millions in PR fixes but boosted ratings—until now, when external threats like Carr loom larger.
What's Next for The View in the Shadow of Kimmel's Suspension?
As Jimmy Kimmel Live! reruns fill the void, The View soldiers on with its September 22 lineup teasing election previews—ironically, without Kimmel's voice in the mix. Will Disney lift the veil, or does Carr's probe force more self-censorship? Hosts like Griffin, a Trump ex-aide, could bridge the gap with balanced takes, but history suggests fireworks ahead. In a media world where satire meets subpoenas, The View's silence isn't just notable—it's a symptom of networks playing defense in Trump's America.
Hat Tips
Deadline on The View's silence and FCC topics: https://deadline.com/2025/09/the-view-jimmy-kimmel-fcc-2-1236549412/
Yahoo on reasons for quiet: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/tv/articles/heres-alleged-reason-view-stayed-171110580.html
Variety on hosts' silence post-threats: https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/the-view-jimmy-kimmel-silent-abc-fcc-chair-threats-1236523328/
Hollywood Reporter on Kimmel suspension basics: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/the-view-silent-jimmy-kimmel-live-suspended-1236374741/
NY Post on Carr's 'worthwhile' probe: https://nypost.com/2025/09/19/entertainment/fcc-chair-thinks-investigating-the-view-worthwhile-after-jimmy-kimmel-suspension/
Fox News on Carr's podcast comments: https://www.foxnews.com/video/6379757234112
Politico on equal-time spotlight: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/18/fcc-brendan-carr-the-view-00572178
People on hosts' controversies timeline: https://people.com/tv/the-view-cohosts-through-the-years-why-they-left/
Entertainment Weekly on exits and retractions: https://ew.com/tv/view-hosts-why-they-left/
Compiled and Edited by Derek Gibbs for Pirates & Princesses.