Jimmy Kimmel may face a federal review after claiming on his show that Charlie Kirk’s suspected killer was a MAGA supporter. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr revealed on conservative podcaster Benny Johnson’s program that he is considering an investigation into Kimmel and ABC regarding these remarks.
The comments referred to 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who prosecutors say fatally shot Kirk during a university event in Orem, Utah. Authorities have clarified that Robinson held leftist political views, not ties to the MAGA movement. Carr described Kimmel’s statements as “some of the sickest conduct possible” and indicated that the FCC has several avenues to respond, including potential suspension of the host.
He warned that airing politically charged and potentially misleading content could put ABC’s broadcast license at risk. Kimmel reportedly refuses to apologize, telling executives he will not “kowtow” to political pressure and intends to stand by his statements, a stance that caused concern within ABC management.
The controversy has escalated as major broadcast syndicators, including Sinclair and Nexstar, threatened to pull ABC programming in certain markets, and advertisers expressed worries over the backlash. During the discussion, Carr noted that an on-air apology by Kimmel could be a minimal step to address the issue. Carr also referenced broader media accountability, citing recent changes at NPR, PBS, and other networks, emphasizing that broadcasters operate under an obligation to serve the public interest.
