Walt Disney owned channel, ABC announced that it is indefinitely suspending “Jimmy Kimmel Live” after the host’s remarks about the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk led to threats from the head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) against the network.
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump celebrated the decision on social media, commending ABC for what he described as a courageous move. He also called for NBC to dismiss late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers who often criticise him.
Kimmel’s controversial comments aired on Monday night, where he discussed the September 10 assassination of Kirk, stating “We hit some new lows… with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them”. He further mocked Trump’s public mourning for Kirk, likening it to how a child might grieve a pet.
Following Kimmel’s remarks, Nexstar Media Group announced it would stop airing the show on its 32 ABC affiliates, deeming Kimmel’s comments “offensive and insensitive” amidst a critical time in national discourse.
Nexstar’s president, Andrew Alford emphasised the need for broadcasters to uphold community values.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr indicated that local broadcasters might face investigations or penalties for airing content he deemed distorted, stating “This is a very, very serious issue right now for Disney”.
He praised Nexstar for its decision, suggesting it was important for media companies to resist programming that doesn’t align with community standards.
However, the move has drawn criticism for democratic lawmakers, who labelled it s direct attack on free speech. Senator Ed Markey condemned the FCC’s actions as censorship, while Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Senator Brian Schatz echoed similar sentiments on social media.
Trump has history of suing and threatening media organisations over unfavourable coverage, recently filing a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against the New York Times and Penguin Random House.
Viewership for late-night shows has been declining as audiences shift to streaming platforms. “Jimmy Kimmel Live” averaged 1.57million viewers per episode during the last broadcast season, while “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” led with 1.9 million viewers.
