Disney’s Bob Iger and Dana Walden wanted to know how Kimmel was going to address the situation. Sources say he planned to defend what he said rather than "kowtowing” to the outrage. Disney thought that would fan the flames.

Following the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel following his comments about Charlie Kirk, one question looms: Will his show return?

Over more than two decades in TV, the comedian has gone from a challenger of politically correct discourse to a frequent antagonist of the right.