ABC Pulls “Jimmy Kimmel Live” After Controversial Comments Amid FCC Pressure
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between political figures and media companies.
ISLAMABAD: ABC, owned by Walt Disney, announced on Wednesday that it is pulling the late-night show “Jimmy Kimmel Live” off the air indefinitely following controversial remarks made by host Jimmy Kimmel about the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The decision came after threats from the head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take regulatory action against Disney.
Kimmel’s comments, made on Monday night, criticized the reaction of the MAGA movement to the killing of Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA. He also mocked former President Donald Trump’s mourning of Kirk, drawing sharp backlash from conservative circles and FCC Chair Brendan Carr.
Carr publicly urged local broadcasters to stop airing “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” suggesting the FCC could investigate and impose fines or revoke licenses if content deemed “distorted” persisted. Carr praised Nexstar Media Group for dropping the show from its 32 ABC affiliates and called on broadcasters to uphold community standards.
US President Donald Trump, who has frequently criticized media outlets and late-night hosts for content he finds objectionable, celebrated ABC’s move on social media and called for other networks to follow suit by removing hosts like Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers.
Several Democratic lawmakers and media rights advocates condemned the decision as an attack on free speech. Senator Ed Markey called it “censorship in action,” while Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Senator Brian Schatz described it as government overreach using regulatory power to suppress lawful expression.
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The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between political figures and media companies. Trump, who is currently involved in multiple lawsuits against media outlets, has a history of suing and pressuring broadcasters over unfavorable coverage.
“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” which averaged 1.57 million viewers per episode last season, faces increasing challenges as traditional TV viewership declines and audiences migrate to streaming platforms. The show’s indefinite removal marks a significant moment in the broader debate over media freedom, political influence, and regulatory authority in the United States.
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