Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr has publicly criticized late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, ABC, and its parent company Disney over a false statement aired on Jimmy Kimmel Live, which suggested that the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk was a supporter of former President Donald Trump.
In an interview with conservative commentator Benny Johnson, Carr described Kimmel’s on-air remarks as “truly sick” and warned they could have serious legal and regulatory consequences. He said the FCC is reviewing whether Kimmel’s false claim violates the network’s obligation to serve the public interest — a condition tied to their broadcast license.
Background on the Incident
Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed during a speaking event at Utah Valley University last Wednesday. The alleged gunman, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, has been charged with aggravated murder and multiple additional offenses. Prosecutors say Robinson expressed hostility toward Kirk’s conservative views and have confirmed they will seek the death penalty.
Despite the clear political motivation outlined by investigators, Kimmel reportedly implied on his show that Robinson was affiliated with the MAGA movement — a claim that has since been debunked.
Carr: “This Is a Very Serious Issue for Disney”
Carr did not mince words during the interview. “This is a very, very serious issue right now for Disney,” he said. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can take internal action regarding Kimmel, or the FCC will be forced to take a closer look at their compliance.”
He continued:
“They [ABC and Disney] have a license granted by us at the FCC, and that comes with an obligation to operate in the public interest. That includes not spreading false, politically charged information on live television.”
Carr suggested that Kimmel could face suspension and that the FCC might take further action if no internal accountability is demonstrated.
Calls for Accountability
“There are calls for Kimmel to be fired,” Carr noted. “At the very least, suspension should be on the table. The FCC could build a strong argument that this was an intentional effort to mislead the public on a matter of significant national interest.”
He added that the burden may not fall solely on ABC and Disney:
“Local affiliate stations also need to take a stand. If this type of content continues to be distributed, it raises serious questions about whether they’re fulfilling their responsibility to serve local communities.”
What’s Next?
While Carr did not confirm whether a formal investigation had been launched, his comments suggest that regulatory scrutiny is possible if ABC and Disney do not respond appropriately. The FCC’s ability to revoke or challenge broadcast licenses, while rarely exercised, remains a powerful tool — particularly in cases involving alleged disinformation tied to public safety or national discourse.
Neither ABC nor Disney has publicly responded to Carr’s remarks at the time of writing.
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