Disney’s handling of the Kimmel controversy shows its struggling to balance politics with its entertainment business. They’ve pissed off a lot of people. Now they’re raising prices for their streaming services at a time where people are canceling their subscriptions and demanding boycotts.
The Kimmel Controversy
The issue began when Kimmel criticized the right for using Charlie Kirk’s death for political gain. What probably got him in trouble was saying that “The MAGA gang is desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
The FCC chair, Brendan Carr, responded by threatening regulatory consequences for Disney and ABC. Major ABC affiliates like Nexstar and Sinclair announced that they would drop his show. ABC responded to the pressure by suspending Kimmel indefinitely.
That decision sparked backlash from across the political spectrum. Free speech advocates, entertainers, even some Republicans accused Disney of censorship. People started canceling their subscriptions to Hulu, Disney+ or scrapped planned vacations to their theme parks. After a few days, Disney reinstated The Jimmy Kimmel Show. However, some Nexstar and Sinclair affiliates refuse to air his show.
Price Hikes at the Worst Time
If that wasn’t bad enough, they’re announcing price hikes across all their streaming services. Starting October 21, most Disney streaming plans will go up:
- Ad-supported Disney+: +$2 (to $11.99/month)
- Ad-free Disney+ Premium: +$3 (to $18.99/month)
- Bundles (Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+): +$1 to $3 across plans
Disney has raised prices every October for four years now, but the timing is horrible! The fact that no one thought that waiting to make this announcement (or maybe quietly raise prices in October) was a good idea is a problem. Nobody is reading the room, seeing they just gave people another reason to cancel their subscriptions.
Why This Feels Different (and More Dangerous)
Disney has recovered from missteps before. They’ve endured backlash from franchises, creative controversies, even boycotts. Their brand strength and global reach tend to cushion the blow.
Yet this moment is different for three main reasons:
- It cuts across the political divide. The Kimmel fallout is not just a partisan issue. The debate over free speech, censorship, and corporate compliance has galvanized critics from both left and right. You’re not just losing one side’s loyalty. You’re raising suspicion from all sides.
- Influencers and activists are mobilized. Big names like Howard Stern to John Oliver have been very critical of Kimmel’s suspension. Influencer-led boycotts carry real weight in subscription businesses.
- Structural fragmentation of distribution. Even though Disney reinstated Kimmel, many affiliates continue to drop his show. Even if audiences want to watch, they might not be able to. That fracture in reach is dangerous for any media brand.
Will Disney Be Able to Recover?
Yes, but it won’t be easy or quick. It will depend heavily on good leadership choices. Right now, Bob Iger and Dana Walden look out of touch with their base. People have been complaining about the direction they’re taking the company in for years but this is a new low. They’ll need to show that they won’t cave under pressure again. Which nobody will believe after this.
Right now, this is less about Disney’s ability to survive. It’s more about whether Bob and Dana are capable of leading the company out of this mess they’ve made.
