Disney Faces Backlash Over Cruz Airtime and Talarico Interview Move
The Walt Disney Company is facing backlash over its handling of two politically related television appearances. On September 12, 2026, ESPN gave conservative Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) nearly 10 minutes of airtime during its flagship program, College GameDay, live from Austin, Texas.
Cruz was promoting his 'Protect College Sports Act of 2026' legislation, which aims to establish a federal framework for college-athlete Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights while creating antitrust exemptions involving college athletics. However, the crowd of college football fans standing behind the desk repeatedly booed Cruz throughout the segment.
Meanwhile, just days prior, ABC moved late-night host Jimmy Kimmel's TV interview with Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico from broadcast television to YouTube amid concerns about regulatory scrutiny from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The contrasting treatment has drawn criticism from sports media commentators and social media users, who have questioned how Disney handled the two appearances across its television platforms.