Kimmel praises Dana Walden as “CEO material” for steadying Disney after the controversy — but won’t say if he’ll stay in late-night.
Jimmy Kimmel explained to Bloomberg Screentime what happened after some comments on his show sparked controversy.
He said the reaction was blown up by right-wing outlets and called the situation a “distortion.” Still, Kimmel says talking openly with Disney leaders made a big difference.
He had “really good conversations” with Disney CEO Bob Iger and with Dana Walden, who is a top Disney executive. Kimmel says those conversations helped him understand other points of view and settle things in a positive way.
He even joked that he “ruined Dana’s weekend” with nonstop calls — but that her involvement helped reach a better outcome.
When asked who should run Disney next, Kimmel didn’t hesitate: he said Dana Walden would be a great pick. He praised her work and said she handled the recent crisis well. He made the comment lightly, but it was a clear show of support.
On the question of his own future: Kimmel stayed quiet.
His contract is up next year, and he’s avoided promising anything. He explained that he’s said “this will be my last contract” before — then changed his mind — so now he prefers not to make firm statements.
Kimmel also talked about the cost of late-night TV. He said the industry spends about $120 million a year on these shows and thinks they don’t need to be that expensive. He believes late-night can be redesigned to be cheaper without losing talent.
About YouTube: Kimmel loves the platform for reach, but he pointed out that ABC pays for the show while YouTube gets ad money without paying the network. He says he hasn’t changed the show just to chase viral clips.
On booking guests: Kimmel said he’d be willing to invite controversial figures — including President Trump — onto the show.
This interview shows how TV personalities and corporate leaders depend on each other when trouble hits. Kimmel’s public backing of Dana Walden is unusual and meaningful — it shows trust between a star and Disney’s leaders.
His refusal to commit about his own future is practical: in TV, plans change fast, and staying flexible makes sense.
