Jimmy Kimmel Faces Potential FCC Scrutiny Over Comments on Charlie Kirk’s Alleged Killer

Former late-night host Jimmy Kimmel is under mounting pressure following controversial remarks he made on-air regarding the political affiliation of Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Now, federal officials may be getting involved.

On Wednesday, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr told conservative commentator Benny Johnson that he is considering whether the agency should review Kimmel’s statements and the role of ABC, the network that aired them. The comments in question came during Kimmel’s Monday night monologue, in which he described the suspect as being aligned with the MAGA movement — a claim that has since been refuted by authorities.

According to investigators, Robinson, 22, who allegedly shot and killed Kirk during a speaking event at a Utah university, held progressive political beliefs and had no known connections to the MAGA or pro-Trump movements. This starkly contradicts Kimmel’s on-air assertion.

Carr did not announce any formal investigation but noted that the FCC has potential authority in matters involving broadcast content, especially when it pertains to the public interest or possible misinformation.

“When you look at the conduct that has taken place by Jimmy Kimmel, it appears to be some of the sickest conduct possible,” Carr said during the interview. “There are avenues here for the FCC. I have to be cautious because we could ultimately be asked to weigh in on these issues officially.”

Kimmel’s comments, which sparked immediate backlash from conservative media figures and political commentators, suggested that Republican figures were attempting to disassociate from Robinson to avoid political fallout. “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them,” Kimmel said on his show. “They’re doing everything they can to score political points from it.”

In response, Carr said the FCC may consider various actions — including possible suspension — depending on how ABC and its parent company, Disney, respond. Carr warned that the airing of politically charged and potentially misleading content could call into question the station’s compliance with FCC regulations and its duty to serve the public interest.

“This is a serious matter,” Carr said. “There’s an argument that this may be an intentional effort to mislead the public about a significant event, and that may violate the standards that come with a federally granted broadcast license.”

The fallout has extended beyond the FCC. Major broadcasting partners such as Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media — which syndicate ABC content in multiple regional markets — reportedly expressed concerns to ABC executives and hinted they may consider pulling some ABC programming unless the network takes corrective action.

Advertisers have also begun raising objections, according to sources familiar with internal discussions at Disney. Concerns reportedly include reputational damage and potential boycotts by conservative consumers.

Despite the pressure, Kimmel has reportedly told ABC leadership that he stands by his statements and has no intention of apologizing. Sources say he refused to “kowtow” to political demands and views the backlash as an attempt to silence him for expressing his views.

This stance, however, is said to be causing tension behind the scenes at ABC, where executives are grappling with how to respond to public criticism while avoiding additional scrutiny from regulators and affiliates.

During the interview, Johnson suggested that an on-air apology might be a reasonable way to defuse the controversy. Carr agreed that such a step “seems like a minimal and reasonable action.”

Carr also tied the situation to broader concerns about media bias and political influence in the press. He cited examples like the defunding of NPR and PBS, and the recent cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show at CBS, as signs of a shifting media landscape. He also pointed to Joy Reid’s departure from MSNBC and journalist Terry Moran’s exit from ABC as examples of a reckoning in the news and entertainment industry.

“This is a very serious issue for Disney right now,” Carr emphasized. “They can choose to address it directly or risk further involvement from the FCC.”

Carr concluded by stressing that the FCC grants licenses under the expectation that broadcasters operate in the public interest, and that knowingly airing misleading information about ongoing investigations may violate those terms.

As of now, no formal action has been announced, but the controversy around Kimmel’s comments shows no sign of slowing down.