The Public Relations Podcast

What really happened when Jimmy Kimmel was axed?


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Do you think they ever really cancelled Jimmy Kimmel?

Or was it a smart PR move to kill a firestorm?

Put the politics aside for a second.

Here’s what happened:-

- Jimmy Kimmel made comments about Charlie Kirk.

- Backlash exploded.

- His show was pulled “indefinitely”.

- The funeral went ahead.

- Kimmel returned.


The moment his show was axed, a good chunk of the fire just blew out.

- No protests during the funeral.

- No attention on the network over that weekend.


Why? Because there was nothing left to argue about.

Kimmel was “gone”... at least publicly.

It defused the heat.

It kept attention off the network.

And it avoided the funeral becoming a flashpoint of increased attention. Then, after the funeral, the narrative moved on.

We heard how people were calling for his return. That was reinforced with interviews and Kimmel himself listing a huge list of celebrities who wanted him back.

So, do you think it was clever planning of the narrative or simple luck with events?


While not everyone needs to think about US politics, it's a good example of how some organisations read the room in a crisis situation and how, by being aware of where the flashpoints can be, they can douse the fire, at least to an extent.

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