Media Giant Praises Trump’s FCC Chair Over Kimmel Threats, Says Suspension Doesn’t Go Far Enough
(Screengrab via ABC)
Sinclair Broadcast Group, a telecom giant that owns almost 200 stations across the country, praised Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr in a statement calling on Jimmy Kimmel to make a donation to Turning Point USA on Wednesday evening.
On Wednesday, Carr suggested that Kimmel and his employer, ABC, could face consequences for a Monday evening rant in which the comic falsely suggested that Tyler Robinson, the man who murdered conservative activist Charlie Kirk last week, was a “one of” the “MAGA gang.”
“In some quarters, there’s a very concerted effort to try to lie to the American people about the nature … of one of the most significant newsworthy public interest acts that we’ve seen in a long time in what appears to be an action by Jimmy Kimmel to play into that narrative that this was somehow a MAGA or a Republican-motivated person,” argued Carr on Benny Johnson’s show. “And I’ve been very clear from the moment that I have become chairman of the FCC, I want to reinvigorate the public interest. And what people don’t understand is that the broadcasters, and you’ve gotten this right, are entirely different than people that use other forms of communication. They have a license granted by us at the FCC, and that comes with it an obligation to operate in the public interest.”
“Look, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to change conduct, to take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or, you know, there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead,” he added.
That evening, Sinclair competitor Nexstar announced that its stations wouldn’t air Kimmel’s show “for the foreseeable future,” and in short order, ABC suspended the program indefinitely.
Sinclair weighed in on the matter in a statement condemning Kimmel, praising Carr, and calling for still more action in a statement that read:
Sinclair, the nation’s largest ABC affiliate group, objects to recent comments made by Mr. Kimmel concerning the assassination of Charlie Kirk. As discussed with ABC earlier today, Sinclair decided to indefinitely preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” beginning tonight. Following these discussions, ABC suspended production of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
“Mr. Kimmel’s remarks were inappropriate and deeply insensitive at a critical moment for our country,” said Vice Chairman Jason Smith. “We believe broadcasters have a responsibility to educate and elevate respectful, constructive dialogue in our communities. We appreciate FCC Chairman Carr’s remarks today, and this incident highlights the critical need for the FCC to take immediate regulatory action to address control held over local broadcasters by the big national networks.”
Sinclair’s ABC stations will air a special in remembrance of Charlie Kirk this Friday, during the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” timeslot. The special will also air across all Sinclair stations this weekend. In addition, Sinclair is offering the special to all ABC affiliates across the country.
Sinclair will not lift the suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on our stations until formal discussions are held with ABC regarding the network’s commitment to professionalism and accountability.
Sinclair also call upon Mr. Kimmel to issue a direct apology to the Kirk family. Furthermore, Sinclair asks Mr. Kimmel to make a meaningful personal donation to the Kirk Family and Turning Point USA.
Regardless of ABC’s plans for the future of the program, Sinclair intends not to return “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” to our air until we are confident that appropriate steps have been taken to uphold the standards expected of a national broadcast platform.
Critics of the suspension of Kimmel’s show argue that government pressure led to it, while supporters have submitted that doing so was in the best business interests of the involved actors.
