FCC pressure – Bob Iger says Jimmy Kimmel’s indefinite ABC suspension last September was about “bad taste” over remarks tied to Charlie Kirk’s death—not politics—after FCC chairman Brendan Carr publicly warned Disney and Kimmel that the situation could be handled “the hard w
Jimmy Kimmel didn’t just land a joke last September—he touched a nerve that quickly pulled Walt Disney’s ABC off-air.
ABC indefinitely stopped airing “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” after the late-night host made remarks about the death of political activist Charlie Kirk. Kirk was assassinated on Sept. 10, 2025, during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University.
Kimmel’s remarks aired days later during a Sept. 15 episode, when he criticized supporters of President Donald Trump and their discussion of Kirk’s killing. In the monologue. Kimmel said. “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 and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”.
ABC’s decision to pull the show indefinitely followed the backlash. The dispute later became part of a larger argument about censorship and freedom of speech—especially as the FCC entered the conversation.
In the days after Kimmel’s monologue. Brendan Carr. the chairman of the FCC. appeared on commentator Benny Johnson’s show and warned Disney. ABC and Kimmel that the matter could be forced into a tougher outcome. “This is a very, very serious issue right now for Disney. We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr said at the time. He added: “There’s calls for Kimmel to be fired. I think you could certainly see a path forward for suspension over this.”.
Kimmel’s show was suspended for nearly a week, a break that drew fresh attention to the balance between broadcasters, government regulators and speech rights under the Trump administration.
When Disney announced Kimmel’s return, it said the suspension was intended “to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country,” adding that Kimmel’s comments were “ill-timed and thus insensitive.”
Nearly a year later, Bob Iger—who served as CEO of the Walt Disney Company during Kimmel’s temporary ouster—returned to the dispute in an interview with the Financial Times published June 20.
Iger pushed back against the idea that the suspension was politically motivated. “That was not the case,” he said, citing Kimmel’s remarks on Kirk. Iger added: “We thought it was in bad taste.” He continued: “We just wanted him to acknowledge that it was an ill-timed and probably inappropriate comment.”.
The sequence of events—Kimmel’s comments on Sept. 15, Kirk’s assassination on Sept. 10, ABC’s indefinite pull, and Carr’s public warnings—made the standoff feel bigger than a single monologue. Even as Disney described the move as a response to tone and timing. the FCC’s involvement gave the controversy a sharper political edge.
Kimmel addressed the incident when he returned to the air. On Sept. 23. during the monologue of his comeback show. he said it was “never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man” and that he was not trying to “blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual.”.
Kimmel—who is currently on a two-month summer break from his talk show—has continued to stir reactions with outspoken TV commentary. The controversy also sits in the context of earlier clashes with the Trump White House.
In April. Kimmel angered President Trump and first lady Melania Trump on social media after making a joke about the White House Correspondents’ Dinner days before a shooting took place at the event. Kimmel delivered an alternative monologue ahead of the event. which did not have a comedian as the headliner. and he quipped. “Mrs. Trump. you have a glow like an expectant widow.” Both President Trump and Melania Trump called on ABC to fire Kimmel over what they characterized as “hateful and violent rhetoric.”.
For Kimmel’s future, the dispute hasn’t removed the business commitment. Kimmel and ABC recently signed a one-year extension for his talk show, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed to USA TODAY in December, meaning “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” will stay on the network through May 2027.
The fight that began with a late-night monologue is now archived as a showdown over how far regulators and networks should go when political emotions run hottest. And in Iger’s telling, the decision was about what ABC called ill-timed remarks—not politics. Yet the public warning from the FCC chairman remains part of the record that viewers can’t unsee.
Jimmy Kimmel ABC suspension FCC Brendan Carr Bob Iger Walt Disney Company Charlie Kirk Utah Valley University free speech late-night television Donald Trump
So Disney got scared of the FCC and just… pulled him? wild.
I don’t even know what Charlie Kirk has to do with FCC. Like the FCC is for commercials and signals, not feelings. Sounds like they’re calling it “bad taste” but really it’s politics.
Wait wait, he “touched a nerve” and that made ABC go off air? That seems like the weakest reason ever. Also didn’t Kimmel say something about Trump supporters and the guy got killed and people are surprised? not buying it.
The title says “Disney silence” but I’m guessing they’re not silent, they’re just quiet like always. And FCC pressure?? Brendan Carr always talks tough. “Hard way” like threatening them over a joke is insane to me, but also… if someone was assassinated and the show was mocking it, yeah maybe they should’ve taken a breath. I can’t tell where “free speech” ends and “don’t be a clown” begins.