Jimmy Kimmel Endorses Dana Walden, The Woman Who Kicked Him off ABC, for Disney CEO

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In a surprising turn of events, Jimmy Kimmel, host of *Jimmy Kimmel Live!*, has publicly backed Disney executive Dana Walden to become the company’s next CEO. This comes just weeks after reports indicated Walden was heavily involved in his recent, and controversial, suspension.

During an interview at the Bloomberg Screentime conference, Jimmy Kimmel was asked who he thought should be the next CEO of Disney after Bob Iger retires.

Kimmel admitted it wasn’t his place to answer the question, but shared his high regard for Dana Walden, praising her work.

This support arrives as Disney’s directors consider who should take over from Iger when his current contract ends in late 2026 – a choice that will likely determine the company’s future for the next ten years.

Looking back, I truly believe things wouldn’t have gone as well if I hadn’t had so many conversations with Dana. We really dug deep behind the scenes, discussing everything after I mistakenly shared incorrect information on my show about the person supposedly targeting Charlie Kirk. Those talks were essential in getting the show back on track, and I’m grateful for her input.

While the praise seems positive, experts believe Walden’s route to success isn’t guaranteed.

The Reality: Josh D’Amaro Is Still the Frontrunner

Although Jimmy Kimmel publicly supported a potential successor, most Disney insiders still believe Josh D’Amaro, who runs the parks, experiences, and merchandise side of the business, is the frontrunner to take over from Iger.

D’Amaro leads Disney’s most successful business segment, which includes Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Cruise Line. He’s known for delivering strong results and keeping guests happy, earning him the trust of both executives and employees.

Disney’s parks and experiences division, led by D’Amaro, has been the company’s financial anchor during a challenging period of streaming losses and disappointing movie revenues. While the entertainment side, overseen by Walden, continues to navigate those losses, the parks division has consistently generated profits that have offset those financial difficulties.

That success alone has given him an edge few can match.

Walden excels at guiding creative decisions; she currently leads Disney Entertainment and oversees all programming for ABC, Hulu, and Disney+. However, this broad responsibility has also drawn criticism due to uneven quality and several content-related issues.

Political Optics: The Kamala Harris Connection

While Dana Walden’s job performance is important, internal dynamics and relationships within Disney are also a key consideration in whether she’ll become CEO.

In Hollywood, people are now discussing the close, long-time friendship between studio executive Susan Walden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Given the current political environment, this connection is raising some eyebrows. The two have been friends since they both lived in California, and Walden has apparently held private gatherings that Harris attended.

Some people think Disney might face challenges working with Washington D.C. under the Trump administration because of a close relationship one of its executives has with a prominent Democrat.

Corporate Politics Meet Real Politics

With Bob Iger planning to step down, there’s growing anticipation and some internal tension at Disney about who will take over as CEO. Dana Walden and Josh D’Amaro are considered leading candidates, along with ESPN’s chairman, Jimmy Pitaro.

How each candidate is *seen* by the public is important. Walden’s connections to Hollywood and progressive groups, plus his involvement in the Jimmy Kimmel situation, could create negative impressions. D’Amaro, however, is generally considered more impartial – an executive focused on the parks themselves who seems to satisfy both employees and investors without any controversial political associations.

This situation could be crucial when the board makes its decision in 2026.

The Bottom Line

While Jimmy Kimmel publicly supporting Dana Walden for Disney CEO got some attention, it probably won’t have much impact on the final decision. Disney’s board is focused on more important things like making a profit, maintaining stability, and managing the company’s image during a politically charged time.

Walden is a highly talented creative leader, but her close relationship with Vice President Harris could be a political liability for Disney. The company is currently working to improve its relationship with conservative viewers and the Trump administration, and this connection might complicate those efforts.

Currently, Josh D’Amaro, who oversees the parks and their financial success, is still the likely candidate to become the top leader at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.

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2025-10-10 01:57