As debate raged in the U.S. about free speech regarding ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel and his temporary suspension from his late-night comedy show, two major figures in American media explained their thoughts.

In an episode of the “Pivot” podcast, New York University professor Scott Galloway and notable technology journalist Kara Swisher were harshly critical of Disney  (DIS)  CEO Bob Iger on how he handled criticism of Kimmel’s comments after the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk.

The Disney-owned ABC network had decided to quit airing “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Sept. 17 and the show resumed on Sept. 23. Disney released the following statement on Sept. 22:

Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.

Scott Galloway explains his thoughts on Disney CEO Bob Iger

Discussing Iger’s decision to put Kimmel back on the air, Galloway was blunt in his assessment of the controversy.

“I’m now more emboldened, convinced that a national economic strike is the way to go here,” he said. “Actors probably called and said, ‘I’m not going to work with Disney.’ They saw thousands of screenshots being sent to them saying, ‘OK, I’m cancelling Hulu.'”

“This was about money,” Galloway continued. “This has nothing to do with Bob Iger talking to Jimmy Kimmel and saying, ‘We took the wrong temperature. We made the wrong decision.’ People are canceling their subscriptions, canceling their trips to Disney, canceling their movie. They’re not going to work with us. It’s going to hurt our share price. So, all of a sudden, we have found our testicles.”

Kara Swisher also criticizes Bob Iger, Disney

Swisher had some remarks of her own in Iger’s decision-making.

“What a dumb decision on the behalf of Bob Iger to do it in the first place — and now they’ve got egg on their face,” she said.

Bob Iger was replaced by Bob Chapek after his first tenure as Disney CEO ended in 2020, but Iger returned to Disney as CEO in November 2022.

Swisher questioned Iger’s actions.

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“It’s such a boneheaded move by Disney and it puts a stain on Bob Iger,” she said. “It just does for the rest of his life.”

Galloway bluntly stated his view of the political climate around the controversy.

“It is actually quite significant because the Republicans were claiming, ‘No, It wasn’t pressure from the administration. It was a private company doing what they’re allowed to do because private companies don’t have to honor the first amendment,” he said.

“This represents something bigger, and that is, of all the things they’ve done, tariffs were not a bridge too far,” he said. “Rounding up people, including citizens, and sending them to effectively what are black sites, that didn’t seem to be a bridge too far.” 

“This feels like it may be that red line we were all waiting for.”

Kara Swisher makes a key statement on the future of late-night TV

Swisher added more comments on the implications of these events for the entertainment industry.

“I think all these shows are on borrowed time in some fashion,” she said. “Decisions should be made over time on how to either reinvigorate these shows or wind them down in a better way.”

Related: Scott Galloway warns Americans on worst-case inflation worry

Galloway added a final thought about Iger, imagining an idea of what might be going through his mind.

“Why didn’t I ring the bell, have parties at that cool restaurant at Disney, continue to go to the Academy Awards, and just sit back and from the cheap seats and heckle whoever the new CEO was?” he imagined Iger asking himself. 

“He decided for some reason to do his third tour in Vietnam and he is getting shot every 30 minutes,” he added. “He went back voluntarily and it’s like, ‘What was I thinking?'”

Related: Disney sends stern warning to customers amid boycott threats