Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr is signaling possible action against late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, ABC, and parent company Disney after Kimmel allegedly spread false information about the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
During an interview with commentator Benny Johnson, Carr condemned Kimmel for suggesting that Kirk’s killer was a supporter of former President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement — a claim Carr said was blatantly untrue.
Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot last Wednesday at Utah Valley University. Police have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who reportedly expressed hostility toward Kirk’s political stance, with aggravated murder and several other crimes. Prosecutors say Robinson could face the death penalty if convicted.
Carr didn’t mince words about Kimmel’s remarks, calling them “truly sick” and warning that ABC’s broadcast license could be at risk if the network fails to address the issue. He stressed that the FCC has a strong case for holding Disney, ABC, and Kimmel responsible for spreading politically motivated misinformation.
“This is a very serious matter for Disney,” Carr told Johnson. “Either the company takes action against Kimmel, or the FCC will have more work to do. Broadcast licenses come with an obligation to serve the public interest, and this type of disinformation undermines that responsibility.”
Carr went on to say that calls for Kimmel’s firing have already begun and that a suspension would not be out of the question. He argued that Kimmel’s comments amounted to a deliberate attempt to mislead the public about a crucial issue.
“Disney needs to show it’s taking this seriously,” Carr added. “And local stations that carry ABC programming should reconsider whether airing content like this serves their communities. The status quo is simply unacceptable.”
