Disney shareholders give CEO an ultimatum on Jimmy Kimmel — and hire lawyer who beat Trump

Comedian Jimmy Kimmel at the Lionel Richie Hand and Footprint Ceremony on March 7, 2018 (Image: Shutterstock)

Disney is facing pressure from a group of its own shareholders over the brief suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel last week, Semafor reported Wednesday.

In a letter to the company, lawyers representing the American Federation of Teachers, Reporters Without Borders and other shareholder groups demanded access to board records tied to the decision.

“Although we are pleased that ABC did the right thing and put Jimmy Kimmel back on the air last night, due to the Trump administration’s continued threats to free speech, including with respect to ABC, we are writing to seek transparency into the initial decision to suspend him and his show,” the letter read.

“There is a credible basis to suspect that the Board and executives may have breached their fiduciary duties of loyalty, care, and good faith by placing improper political or affiliate considerations above the best interests of the Company and its stockholders," it added.

The letter argues that investors deserve to know whether Disney’s leaders mishandled their responsibilities when they pulled Kimmel’s show after conservative backlash, per the report.

The report noted that the groups are represented by several attorneys including Roberta Kaplan, who previously sued President Donald Trump on behalf of E. Jean Carroll. They warned that if Disney fails to comply within five business days, they will take the company to court.

The suspension followed Kimmel’s remarks about the alleged shooter of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. Critics said Disney’s response signaled weakness on free-speech issues, while some Hollywood figures threatened to cut ties with the company. The controversy coincided with a loss of more than $4 billion in Disney’s market value.

According to the report, the shareholders are asking for documents showing how the suspension may have affected revenue, policies guiding decisions on “politically sensitive programming,” and contracts with affiliate networks Nexstar and Sinclair, whose blackout threats reportedly triggered the move.

They also want board-level emails, including those involving CEO Bob Iger, as well as any communications with government or political groups.

Under Delaware law, shareholders can request “books and records” to investigate possible misconduct, though access typically extends only to board-level matters and not routine management decisions.

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