FCC chair threatens ABC and Disney over Kimmel's remarks about Kirk

[struggle4progress]

The Federal Communications Commission’s Trump-aligned chairman on Wednesday threatened to “take action” against Disney and ABC over Jimmy Kimmel’s recent comments about Charlie Kirk’s suspected killer.

During his Monday evening monologue, Kimmel suggested Kirk’s alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, might have been a pro-Trump Republican. “The MAGA Gang (is) desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said. “In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.”

The ABC late-night host’s remarks constituted “the sickest conduct possible,” FCC chair Brendan Carr told right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson on Wednesday. Carr suggested his FCC could move to revoke ABC affiliate licenses as a way to force Disney to punish Kimmel ...

https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/17/media/jimmy-kimmel-charlie-kirk-trump-fcc-brendan-carr

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. That's that, say goodbye to Jimmy Kimmel

😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡

[MagickMuffin]

2. ABC has already capitulated once, Bullies always return for more

That’s what happens when you capitulate to bullies, they will continue to take your lunch money again and again until you are left with nothing.

Also ABC refused to stand up for the 1st Amendment and Free Speech. I suspect Jimmy Kimmel’s days may be numbered. ABC and Disney will not defend Jimmy’s right to free speech.

Nothing but disrespect for ABC and Disney.

[still-prayin4rain]

3. But don't call their behaviors fascist.

[fujiyamasan]

6. There are even some DUers that argue free speech isn't being threatened

Almost got into an argument and realized it’s a waste of time.

[still-prayin4rain]

7. Pam Bondi and Stephen Miller have both been very clear.

[still-prayin4rain]

8. And there goes Jimmy Kimmel

[MrWowWow]

4. Time to Go to a Streaming Model

And get off network tv altogether..

[JBTaurus83]

5. They will continue this to

Put a chill over this nation. Everyone will go silent as the beatings continue.

[wolfie001]

9. christo-fascism and 6 festering piles of sh7t on the SC......

......is what got us here.

[Joinfortmill]

10. Chilling.

[wiggs]

11. government threatening punishment for....speech. Government, not a private company. How is this constitutional???? nt

[EnergizedLib]

12. Stop. Giving. The. Bully. Your. Lunch. Money.

[hamsterjill]

21. Amen.

Stop. Turn around. Face the asshole and mean it. Chances are, he will run like a coward.

[Grim Chieftain]

13. Ok, this is serious, really, really serious

ALL of our rights are being eviscerated on a daily basis. It won't stop on its own. We have to stop this. Now.

[bagimin]

14. If I wasn't pushing 80

I'd get the fuck out of here. I don't understand why people aren't rioting nonstop in the streets. How bad does it have to get?

[Grim Chieftain]

17. I'm right there with you.

As a baby boomer, this country is rapidly becoming everything our generation fought against.

[JBTaurus83]

18. People

Are like frogs in boiling water.

[popsdenver]

15. Uk charged the four who posted

the giant banner of Trump/Epstein, and shined an image of the two on a building in England. They charged them with a crime that was actually made law, years ago in England for some weird reason...............

"MALICIOUS COMMUNICATIONS"

Wow, there is a new Crime Trump, Patel, and Bondi can really get behind and institute the minute Trump returns to the U.S. ...........

I am sure that Trump will be quick to pick up on that and institute it here in America.

Trump has most certainly already sent that criminal charge, "Malicious Communications," to his CABAL .....especially Patel and Bondi, and they will soon be installing it as a Federal Felony here in America. He has already been doing it, going filing lawsuits against everyone who is outspoken about him and his fascist tyranny, but now has a catchy name for the charges against anyone that speaks out against him or his administration.......The Republicans in the Senate and House, along with the Republicans Justices in the U.S. Supreme Court will jump right on it to back him up......AND charge them, and imprison the violators........

He can justify the new law, by saying: "Other countries have it as law, we need it"........

The Brit's were apparently hedging their bets, by charging the four......... Guess Trump has the Brits all frightened, just as he has done with so many other people and nations........

[Pompoy]

16. Suspended indefinitely

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/09/17/nation/jimmy-kimmel-charlie-kirk/

[moonshinegnomie]

19. and im canceling disney

i know how to acquire anything i want to watch elsewhere if needed

[aggiesal]

20. Funny how the FCC mentioned nothing about Fox host Kilmeade's statement about euthanizing homeless people. Hmmm 🤔 n/t

[summer_in_TX]

22. Nexstar TV had announced they were running alternative programming in that time slot

instead of the Jimmy Kimmel Show. So they too are responsible.

The ABC announcement came just after one of the biggest owners of TV stations in the US, Nexstar Media, said it would not air Jimmy Kimmel Live! "for the foreseeable future beginning with tonight's show".

Nexstar said the comedian's remarks about Kirk "are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse".

"[We] do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located," said Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar's broadcasting division.

"Continuing to give Mr Kimmel a broadcast platform in the communities we serve is simply not in the public interest at the current time, and we have made the difficult decision to pre-empt his show in an effort to let cooler heads prevail as we move toward the resumption of respectful, constructive dialogue."

FCC Chair Brendan Carr was interviewed on The Benny Show and said "Look, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to change conduct, to take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or, you know, there's going to be additional work for the FCC ahead,"
He said an apology from Kimmel would be a "very reasonable, minimal step".

Seems to me he is putting on a reasonable act to make it seem less authoritarian than it actually is.

[Maru Kitteh]

23. HIS REMARKS WERE ABOUT MAGA, not Kirk! DON'T ACCEPT THEIR FRAMING

It’s easy to understand why they want to mischaracterize what Kimmel said. It was Trump and MAGA being criticized - NOT CK, but they are happy to hide behind his CORPSE.