Tatiana Maslany Calls for Disney+ Boycott After Jimmy Kimmel Live Suspension

Canadian actress Tatiana Maslany, best known for her role as Jennifer Walters in Marvel’s She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, has openly urged her fans to cancel their subscriptions to Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN.

Her call for action came after ABC, owned by Disney, suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely in the wake of a political firestorm.

The controversy erupted on September 17, 2025, when ABC executives abruptly pulled Kimmel’s late-night show following remarks he made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The decision followed direct warnings from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which suggested the network could face consequences unless disciplinary steps were taken. The move has raised alarms among free speech advocates, who see it as an instance of the Trump administration pressuring media companies critical of the president.

During his monologue, the 57-year-old comedian addressed attempts by right-wing figures to politicize Kirk’s death. He remarked that the “MAGA gang” was working overtime to portray the shooter as anything other than their supporter, and accused them of trying to score political points from a tragedy. Kimmel, who has often been outspoken against Donald Trump and conservative figures, also compared Trump’s response to Kirk’s killing to “a four-year-old mourning a goldfish.” While Kimmel condemned the attack and expressed sympathy for Kirk’s family, his commentary provoked fierce backlash from Republican circles.

FCC chair Brendan Carr escalated matters further, labeling Kimmel’s words “the sickest conduct possible.” He warned Disney that networks could either “change conduct and take action” or face intervention from the regulator. Facing the threat of penalties, ABC decided to suspend the program without a clear timeline for its return.

Maslany, who starred in a Disney+ series just three years earlier, responded strongly. Sharing a behind-the-scenes photo from the She-Hulk set on Instagram, she told her 500,000 followers to stand against censorship by withdrawing financial support from Disney-owned platforms. For Maslany, the suspension was not only a matter of defending Kimmel but also about drawing attention to what she and others see as dangerous limits being placed on artistic and journalistic expression.

Her stance has been echoed by notable Hollywood figures. Damon Lindelof, creator of Lost and HBO’s Watchmen, announced that he would refuse to work with Disney until the late-night program is reinstated. “I was shocked, saddened, and infuriated by yesterday’s suspension,” Lindelof wrote. “If it isn’t lifted, I can’t in good conscience work for the company that imposed it.” Filmmaker Boots Riley went even further, suggesting on social media that if directors collectively refused to participate in Disney or ABC projects, the decision would be reversed within hours.

President Donald Trump, however, welcomed the suspension and hinted at broader actions against unfriendly media outlets. Speaking aboard Air Force One after returning from a state visit to the UK, Trump suggested that licenses for networks opposed to him might be revoked. “I have read somewhere that 97% of coverage was negative toward me, and yet I still won easily,” he told reporters. “Maybe their license should be taken away.” His comments reinforced critics’ concerns that government influence is being used to punish dissenting voices in the media landscape.

The ripple effect of this controversy has spread beyond ABC. Comedy Central recently pulled a rerun of a South Park episode that touched on Kirk’s assassination, later delaying the release of a new episode at the last moment. Series creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone took responsibility in a joint statement but the move has further fueled debates over whether networks are bowing to political intimidation.

At the heart of the uproar is a clash between political power, corporate interests, and freedom of speech. Maslany’s call for a boycott highlights a growing resistance among actors, writers, and directors against corporate compliance with government pressure. Whether Disney responds or not, the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! has already become a flashpoint in the wider conversation about censorship, media independence, and the role of entertainment figures in shaping political discourse.