What Is the Jimmy Kimmel Lawsuit?
The Jimmy Kimmel lawsuit is a federal copyright case that courts dismissed in 2024 and 2025. Former Congressman George Santos sued Jimmy Kimmel, ABC and Disney over Cameo videos aired on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
Two other matters share the name. Disney and ABC sued the FCC in August 2026, and Kimmel is not a party. President Trump also threatened to sue ABC in 2025, but no such complaint appears in the coverage reviewed.
“Plaintiff George Santos (“Santos” or “Plaintiff”), by and through his attorneys, hereby files this complaint against Defendants James C. Kimmel (“Kimmel”), American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. (“ABC”), and Walt Disney Company (“Disney”) for copyright infringement, fraudulent inducement, breach of contract, and unjust enrichment, as follows:”
Source: Source: Complaint, Santos v. Kimmel, et al. (S.D.N.Y., dated February 16, 2024), opening paragraph.
Why Was the Jimmy Kimmel Lawsuit Filed?
The Jimmy Kimmel lawsuit was filed because George Santos says Kimmel's show tricked him into recording Cameo videos. Cameo is a site where fans buy personalized video messages from public figures.
The complaint says Kimmel sent at least 14 requests using invented names and stories. Santos recorded about 14 videos, and Variety reported that staffers paid $400 for each one.
Kimmel aired the videos in a segment called "Will Santos Say It?" starting December 7, 2023. Santos's lawyers sent a cease and desist letter on December 12, 2023.
The complaint says ABC then stopped airing new videos but left earlier clips online. Santos filed in the Southern District of New York on the complaint's February 16, 2024 date.
What Harms Does the Jimmy Kimmel Lawsuit Allege?
The Jimmy Kimmel lawsuit includes four distinct categories of harm, each pled as its own count in the Santos complaint. No court found any of them proven.
The Second Circuit held that Kimmel's use was fair use. It dismissed the state-law counts as preempted by the Copyright Act or for failure to state a claim.
Copyright Infringement
Copyright infringement is a legal claim that someone used protected creative work without the owner's permission.
Count I alleges the defendants reproduced and displayed five Cameo videos on television and on ABC's social media accounts. Santos registered those videos with the Copyright Office in January 2024.
Judge Denise Cote ruled the use was transformative political commentary. The Second Circuit agreed that fair use applied.
Fraudulent Inducement
Fraudulent inducement is a legal claim that someone used false statements to persuade another person to act.
Count II alleges Kimmel posed as fans with names such as "Chris Cates" and "Ron" to obtain the videos. Santos says he relied on those requests and lost money.
Santos argued that fair use cannot protect videos obtained by deception. The district judge said that argument finds no support in copyright law.
Breach of Contract
Breach of contract is a legal claim that a party failed to honor the terms of an agreement.
Count III alleges the defendants broke Cameo's personal use license by airing the videos commercially. The complaint says neither Cameo license permits national television broadcast.
The count was one of the state-law claims the courts dismissed.
Unjust Enrichment
Unjust enrichment is a legal claim that someone kept a benefit that fairness says belongs to another person.
Count IV asks for the reasonable value of the commercial use and disgorgement of the defendants' gains. The complaint says the defendants kept profits at Santos's expense.
No ruling awarded any money on this count.
What Is the Current Status of the Jimmy Kimmel Lawsuit?
The current status of the Jimmy Kimmel lawsuit is closed on its main track. Santos v. Kimmel concluded when the Second Circuit affirmed dismissal in September 2025, and no further appeal appears in the coverage reviewed. A separate case, ABC v. FCC, remained pending as of October 24, 2026.
Santos v. Kimmel, et al.
Judge Denise Cote dismissed the complaint on August 19, 2024. Santos pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud and identity theft charges that day. A Second Circuit panel affirmed the dismissal about a year later.
| Type | Federal copyright and state-law civil case |
| Court | U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York |
| Plaintiff | George Santos |
| Defendants | James Kimmel, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., Walt Disney Company |
| Complaint Date | February 16, 2024 |
| Counts | Copyright infringement, fraudulent inducement, breach of contract, unjust enrichment |
| District Judge | Denise Cote |
| Dismissal Date | August 19, 2024 |
| Appeal | Second Circuit No. 24-2196, panel of Judges Cabranes, Lohier and Sullivan |
| Appeal Decision | Dismissal affirmed in September 2025 |
| Status | Closed, no further appeal reported |
Judge Raymond Lohier wrote the opinion. The panel said fair use can be decided at the pleading stage when the complaint itself establishes it.
American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. FCC
Disney and ABC sued on August 18, 2026. The FCC had ordered eight ABC-owned stations to file license renewals years early. Jimmy Kimmel is not a party.
| Type | First Amendment retaliation suit against a federal agency |
| Court | U.S. District Court, District of Columbia |
| Case Number | 1:26-cv-02902-LLA |
| Judge | Loren AliKhan |
| Plaintiffs | American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. and The Walt Disney Company |
| Defendants | Federal Communications Commission and Chairman Brendan Carr |
| Complaint Date | August 18, 2026 |
| Order Challenged | FCC Media Bureau Order DA 26-416, April 28, 2026 |
| Relief Sought | Preliminary injunction against the early license review |
| Hearing | October 6, 2026 |
| Added Briefing | Government due October 9, 2026; ABC due October 14, 2026 |
| Status | No ruling reported as of October 24, 2026; FCC has moved to dismiss |
The FCC argues the district court lacks jurisdiction and that ABC shows no irreparable harm. ABC says the review is retaliation for speech the administration dislikes.
What Is the Jimmy Kimmel Lawsuit Amount?
The Jimmy Kimmel lawsuit amount is zero, because no court ordered Kimmel, ABC or Disney to pay anything.
Santos's complaint set no fixed sum. It asked for actual and punitive damages to be decided at trial, or statutory damages of $150,000 per infringement. The courts dismissed the case before trial.
ABC's separate suit against the FCC seeks no damages in the coverage reviewed. Reports describe the request as a preliminary injunction against the early license review.
Kimmel mocked the Santos suit on air in December 2023. He said a fraud suit from Santos would be "like a dream come true."
Jimmy Kimmel Lawsuit Updates and Case Status
The Jimmy Kimmel lawsuit has two live timelines: the closed Santos case and the pending ABC case against the FCC. These updates list both in date order, and the FCC case had no ruling as of October 24, 2026.
Jimmy Kimmel Lawsuit Timeline of Events
ABC's Added Brief Due in ABC v. FCC
ABC's supplemental brief in American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. FCC was due on October 14, 2026. Judge Loren AliKhan asked for the round of added briefing after the October 6 hearing. The coverage reviewed reported no ruling on the preliminary injunction afterward.
Judge AliKhan Hears ABC's Injunction Request
Judge Loren AliKhan heard about two hours of argument on October 6, 2026 in ABC v. FCC. ABC lawyer Beth Wilkinson said the network is "chilled" and compared the license review to a head on a guillotine. A Justice Department lawyer argued the court lacks jurisdiction.
Free Speech Groups File Amicus Brief for ABC
A coalition led by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression filed an amicus brief supporting ABC in ABC v. FCC on September 17, 2026. The brief is Document 40-3 on the court's docket. It argues the early renewal proceeding is political retribution.
Disney and ABC Sue the FCC
Disney and ABC filed American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. FCC, No. 1:26-cv-02902, in federal court in Washington on August 18, 2026. The complaint names the FCC and Chairman Brendan Carr. It cites President Trump's calls for Kimmel's firing as evidence of retaliation.
FCC Sets the Pleading Cycle for ABC License Renewals
The FCC Media Bureau issued Public Notice DA 26-541 on May 29, 2026. The notice set the pleading cycle and ex parte rules for the early renewal applications of eight ABC-owned stations.
FCC Orders Early License Renewals for Eight ABC Stations
The FCC Media Bureau issued Order DA 26-416 on April 28, 2026. It required Disney's eight ABC-owned stations to file renewal applications years early. The National News Desk reported the order followed Trump's call to fire Kimmel over a joke about Melania Trump.
Trump Threatens to Sue ABC Over Kimmel's Return
President Trump threatened to sue ABC after the network restored Jimmy Kimmel Live! on September 23, 2025. Forbes reported on September 24 that his campaign finance claims were false. No complaint from Trump appears in the coverage reviewed.
ABC Suspends Jimmy Kimmel Live! After FCC Chairman's Warning
ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely on September 17, 2025 over his remarks about Charlie Kirk's killing. Earlier that day, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said companies could act "the easy way or the hard way" on Kimmel. Nexstar and Sinclair then preempted the show.
Second Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Santos v. Kimmel
The Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of George Santos's suit in Appeal No. 24-2196. The panel held Kimmel's use of the Cameo videos was fair use. It also upheld dismissal of the state-law claims. Mealey's reported the ruling on September 23, 2025.
Judge Cote Dismisses Santos's Complaint as Fair Use
Judge Denise Cote dismissed Santos v. Kimmel in the Southern District of New York on August 19, 2024. She found Kimmel used the videos to comment on Santos's willingness to say absurd things for money. Santos pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges the same day.
George Santos Files Against Kimmel, ABC and Disney
George Santos dated his complaint February 16, 2024. It named Jimmy Kimmel, ABC and Disney and was filed in the Southern District of New York. It pleaded copyright infringement, fraudulent inducement, breach of contract and unjust enrichment. It asked for $150,000 in statutory damages per infringement.
Santos's Lawyers Send a Cease and Desist Letter
Santos's lawyers sent the defendants a cease and desist letter on December 12, 2023 demanding removal of the posted videos. The complaint says ABC stopped airing new videos but kept earlier clips online.
Kimmel Says a Santos Fraud Suit Would Be a "Dream Come True"
On December 11, 2023, Kimmel said a Santos fraud suit would be "like a dream come true" for him. He then aired two more Santos Cameo videos. The complaint quotes the remark as proof the defendants acted willfully.
Kimmel Airs the First Santos Cameo Videos
Jimmy Kimmel Live! aired three Santos Cameo videos on December 7, 2023. The segment was titled "Will Santos Say It" and Kimmel told viewers he wrote the requests himself. The complaint says the episode drew 1.4 million YouTube views in three days.
How Did Kimmel and ABC Defend the Jimmy Kimmel Lawsuit?
Kimmel and ABC defended the Jimmy Kimmel lawsuit with a fair use defense that courts accepted early. The courts found the videos served political commentary and parody.
Judge Cote found the segments commented on Santos's willingness to say absurd things for money. Law professors also filed an amicus brief supporting Kimmel in the Second Circuit, according to Mealey's.
| Issue | Santos argued | Courts held |
|---|---|---|
| Fair use | Fair use cannot cover videos obtained by deception | Use was transformative commentary and protected |
| Bad faith | Kimmel acted in bad faith by deceiving Santos | The complaint contradicts any aim to supplant Santos's market |
| State claims | Fraud, contract and enrichment counts were pled | Dismissed as preempted or insufficiently pleaded |
Santos's lawyers said the district court's rule would protect anyone who tricks an artist into making art. The courts did not accept that argument.
Is There a Jimmy Kimmel Lawsuit Against Disney?
No. Jimmy Kimmel has not sued Disney, and no coverage reviewed reports such a suit. The case behind that search is Disney and ABC suing the FCC, and Kimmel is not a party to it.
In Santos v. Kimmel, Disney and Kimmel were co-defendants. The table separates the four matters people often mix up.
| Case | Parties | Subject | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santos v. Kimmel, et al. (S.D.N.Y.) | George Santos against Kimmel, ABC and Disney | Copyright and state-law claims over Cameo videos | Dismissed; affirmed September 2025 |
| American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. FCC, No. 1:26-cv-02902-LLA (D.D.C.) | ABC and Disney against the FCC and Chairman Carr | First Amendment retaliation over early license renewals | Injunction argued October 6, 2026; no ruling reported |
| Sondik v. Kimmel (New York trial court) | David Sondik against ABC and Kimmel | Privacy and defamation over a "Flying Rabbi" parody | Dismissed in December 2011 |
| Threatened Trump suit against ABC | President Trump and ABC | Threat made after Kimmel's September 2025 return | No complaint reported |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Jimmy Kimmel lawsuit about?
The Jimmy Kimmel lawsuit is about Cameo videos George Santos recorded for requests Kimmel wrote under invented names. Santos sued over the airing of those videos. The courts dismissed the case as fair use.
Did Jimmy Kimmel sue Disney?
Jimmy Kimmel did not sue Disney in any coverage reviewed. Disney and ABC sued the FCC in August 2026, and Kimmel is not a party to that case.
Did George Santos win his lawsuit against Jimmy Kimmel?
George Santos did not win his lawsuit against Jimmy Kimmel. Judge Cote dismissed it on August 19, 2024, and the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal in September 2025.
Is the Jimmy Kimmel lawsuit a class action?
The Jimmy Kimmel lawsuit is not a class action or multidistrict litigation. Santos v. Kimmel was a single-plaintiff case, so no class of claimants exists to join.
Has the Jimmy Kimmel lawsuit settled?
The Jimmy Kimmel lawsuit has not settled. Courts dismissed Santos v. Kimmel without any payment, and the coverage reviewed reports no settlement in ABC v. FCC.
Is Jimmy Kimmel part of Disney's lawsuit against the FCC?
Jimmy Kimmel is not part of Disney's lawsuit against the FCC. ABC and Disney are the plaintiffs, and the suit cites Trump's calls to fire Kimmel as evidence of retaliation.
When will the judge rule in ABC v. FCC?
No ruling date has been announced in ABC v. FCC. Judge AliKhan heard arguments on October 6, 2026 and set added briefs for October 9 and October 14.
Has Trump sued Jimmy Kimmel or ABC?
Trump has not sued Jimmy Kimmel or ABC in any coverage reviewed. He threatened to sue ABC in September 2025, and no complaint followed in the reporting found.