Jimmy Kimmel's long-running relationship with Disney is strained as his show nears its 24th year, with Page Six reporting that sources claim he has been difficult to work with due to a lack of collaboration across Disney properties like ABC shows. Despite this, insiders argue that Kimmel has hosted the Oscars multiple times and appeared on other network programs when required. Disney’s president, Dana Walden, acknowledges the friendship but also notes they are assessing what is best for both Kimmel and their business interests moving forward.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Jimmy Kimmel, longtime host of ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!", is expected to end his show later this year after 24 years with Disney. Behind the scenes at Disney, Kimmel has a complicated relationship due to his reluctance to participate in cross-promotional efforts for other ABC shows and events. Sources say he has rarely appeared on shows like "Good Morning America" or "The View", viewing such appearances as being forced to "shill." Additionally, Kimmel reportedly declined to invite talent from New York-based Disney shows to his Brooklyn tapings when the show tours there annually.
Despite these tensions, a Disney president Dana Walden acknowledged during a Bloomberg interview that they are trying to balance honoring their partnership with Kimmel while navigating business decisions. Some insiders argue against this narrative by pointing out instances where Kimmel has cooperated, like inviting guests from other Disney shows and making appearances on ABC News since October of last year.
This situation highlights the complex dynamics between network loyalty and individual creative freedom within large media conglomerates.
Written for “Jimmy Kimmel Disney Relationship” on 2026-10-08,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 64375 · logged 2026-10-08
As Jimmy Kimmel’s time at Disney draws to a close, it has exposed a fraught relationship behind the scenes.
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it → draw → scenes
As Page Six previously reported, the longtime late-night host is expected to end his show later this year after 24 years.
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host → report → years
And sources tell Page Six he’s partially to blame because he’s “never played well in the sandbox.”
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he → tell → sandbox
For example, he’s seldom appeared on the company’s ABC shows like “Good Morning America” and “The View” because, we’re told, “he doesn’t want to be a shill.”
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he → appear → America
“And when he does, he’s a complete a–hole,” according to one source.
uncertain
he → do → source
The insider said he expects Disney shows to “prop up the stuff he was doing.”
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he → say → stuff
“But he would never reciprocate,” they said, “He would never have anyone on from ABC News…
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He → reciprocate → News
People would get upset.”
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People → get → ?
Multiple sources shared similar stories, adding the “Jimmy Kimmel Live” star seldom invited New York talent to his show when he brings it to Brooklyn every year.
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he → share → Brooklyn
“He’s unmanageable,” another source said and pointed out how he roasted Disney brass at the upfronts in May.
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he → ’ → May
“It was uncomfortable to say the least,” they said.
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they → say → least
Other insiders pushed back, saying Kimmel welcomed “66 synergy guests” since October of last year, noting his May appearance on “GMA,” followed by appearances on “Live with Kelly and Mark,” and his obligatory taped messages to ABC’s local affiliate stations.
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Kimmel → push → stations
Additionally, they pointed out, Kimmel has hosted the Oscars, which airs on ABC, numerous times.
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which → point → ABC
And even though they insist he’s been a team player for all of his 25 seasons, our first source jeered: “He’s being a better corporate partner because he was on thin ice.”
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he → insist → ice
They referred to Kimmel’s antagonistic relationship with President Donald Trump that got him temporarily pulled from the airwaves last year.
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him → refer → airwaves
We’re told Kimmel felt unprotected by the network during the episode, despite being one of the longest-running late night hosts in TV history.
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Kimmel → tell → history
An industry insider also told us that CBS cancelling “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” opened the door for ABC to follow suit with Kimmel.
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ABC → tell → Kimmel
After Page Six reported in September that his contract would not be extended after 2027, a spokesperson described our information as “inaccurate.”
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spokesperson → report → information
But when asked about the future of Kimmel’s show during a conversation with Bloomberg’s Screentime at the end of the month, president Dana Walden said the network is “trying to make sense of the business while also honoring a deep partnership.”
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network → ask → partnership
“I love Jimmy.
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I → love → Jimmy
We have a great friendship.
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We → have → friendship
He’s close to a number of people at Disney.
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He → ’ → Disney
We’re trying to work through it and make sense of, what does Jimmy want.
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Jimmy → try → what
What’s the right thing to do, and what’s the right thing for our business,” she said.
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she → ’ → business
A spokesperson for Kimmel and ABC Entertainment did not comment on this story.
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spokesperson → comment → story
Conversation
Your voice matters.
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voice → matter → Conversation
Discussions are moderated for civility.
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Discussions → moderate → civility
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