WASHINGTON D.C. – FCC Commissioner jessica Rosenworcel praised The Walt Disney Company’s decisionโ to reinstate Jimmy Kimmel as host of “Jimmy โคKimmel Live!” following a briefโ suspension, framing โฃthe move โas โขa defense against escalating government pressure on media organizations. The reinstatement โcomes after a public outcry and bipartisan criticism of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s suggestion โฃthe agency could take action against Disney over Kimmel’s on-air commentary.
The dispute centers on Kimmel’s remarks โคregarding Charlieโข Kirk and aโฃ recent incident involving an individual allegedly targeting โKirk. Carr, appointed โby former President Donald Trump, indicated the FCCโข could scrutinize Disney’s licensing if โthe company โฃdidn’t address Kimmel’s statements, sparking concerns about potential censorship and government overreach into editorial content. Rosenworcel’s โฃstatement underscores a growing divide within theโฃ FCC regardingโฃ the appropriate level of regulatory oversight of broadcast networks and the โฃprotection of free speech.
“I applaud Disney for resisting political pressure and reaffirming itsโข commitment toโ independent journalism,”โ Rosenworcel said โขin a statement. “This situation highlights a growing campaignโค of censorship andโ control, and I will keep fighting to ensure local broadcasters have the independence to โขstand up to government threats.”
The controversy unfolded after Kimmel referenced the incident involving Kirk on his show, prompting Carrโค to publicly warn Disney. Hours after Carr’s comments on a podcast on September 17, Nexstar Media Group pulled “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” fromโข itsโฃ ABC affiliate stations, โขand Disney later halted production of the show.โข
The suspension drew criticism fromโ across the political spectrum. โWhile Hollywood and left-leaning โขfigures widelyโ supportedโ Kimmel, Republican senators Ted โCruz and Rand Paul alsoโ publicly disagreedโ with Carr’s approach,โฃ though both had previously criticized Kimmel’s โinitial comments and acknowledged โdisney’s right to discipline โits employees.
The incidentโ has fueled debate about theโ FCC’s role in regulating contentโข and the potential for political interference โin media operations. Rosenworcel’s support for Disney’s decisionโฃ signals her intent to push back against โฃwhat โshe โviews as โขan encroaching effort to stifle free โexpression and consolidate power within large media conglomerates.the โฃFCC is currently considering changes that could allow furtherโ consolidationโค of media ownership, a move Rosenworcel opposes.
