Which Jimmy Kimmel Live sponsors have been criticized for their advertising?

1. Why advertisers mattered: a money story behind a free‑speech fight

Late‑night programming supports broader network revenue: iSpot data reported Jimmy Kimmel Live! delivered ads for over 200 brands and generated just under $70 million in year‑to‑date ad revenue for ABC, which helps explain why marketers and media buyers were closely watching the suspension and reinstatement decisions ^[3]. Adweek reported marketers were publicly quiet and privately cautious, concerned that increasing political scrutiny — including comments from FCC leadership — could raise regulatory and reputational risks for brands that advertise around politically charged shows ^[1].

2. Who was criticized — networks, station groups, or the brands themselves?

Coverage shows criticism landed on multiple parties. Local broadcast groups such as Nexstar and Sinclair were criticized for preempting or refusing to air Kimmel’s return — and that prompted some advertisers and consumer boycotts of those station groups — while brands that advertise on late‑night were described as staying silent rather than taking visible stands ^{[2] [1]}. Reporting notes that some advertisers paused ads on Nexstar and Sinclair affiliates during the dispute, though specific national advertiser names are not listed in the provided pieces ^[2].

3. What actions advertisers took — evidence and limits

Marketplace reported that “some groups that advertise with Nexstar and Sinclair are pausing their ads,” casting advertisers as responsive to station‑level decisions ^[2]. Adweek’s reporting, however, emphasized the reticence of top brands and media buyers contacted by the outlet — seven top brands were reached and none had responded at the time of writing — showing an industry posture of caution rather than public campaigning ^[1]. The exact roster of advertisers who paused spending is not named in the supplied excerpts ^{[2] [1]}.

4. Political pressures that shaped advertiser behavior

A key dynamic cited in multiple pieces was public pressure from political figures and regulators: comments by FCC chairman Brendan Carr criticizing Kimmel and hinting at possible regulatory consequences added a layer of perceived risk for networks and their advertisers, influencing both broadcaster and marketer calculations ^{[4] [2]}. That pressure helps explain why advertisers were wary of being publicly associated with a program that had become politically contentious ^[1].

5. Public reaction and the campaign against sponsors

Reporting documents consumer reactions including threats to boycott ABC and admonitions to contact sponsors — a grassroots component that threatened brands with reputational fallout if they continued to be associated with the program ^[5]. ABC’s reinstatement of Kimmel prompted continued pushback by some affiliates and viewers, and the threats to boycott sponsors were explicitly noted in coverage of the broader controversy ^{[6] [5]}.

6. What the sources do not confirm or name

Available sources do not provide a comprehensive list of specific national advertisers that were publicly criticized for their ads on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, nor do they cite particular brands’ spokespeople explaining ad pauses in the supplied excerpts ^{[1] [2]}. If you want brand‑level detail, current reporting excerpts here do not name which of the “more than 200 brands” altered their buying or were boycotted ^[3].

7. The bigger context and competing interpretations

Business Insider frames the suspension as evidence of late‑night fragility and a financial calculus for networks and advertisers centered on viral clips and subscription marketing value ^[3]. Adweek paints advertisers as fearful of regulatory escalation and therefore cautious ^[1]. Marketplace highlights direct advertiser action — ad pauses — in response to broadcaster behavior ^[2]. These perspectives converge on advertiser caution but differ on whether brands were primarily passive (staying quiet) or actively pausing buys; both behaviors are documented in the sources ^{[1] [2]}.

If you want, I can search available reporting snippets for named advertisers who paused buys or were specifically called out by critics, or compile a timeline of advertiser and station actions using these same sources.