FCC Chair Denies Role in Jimmy Kimmel Suspension

FCC chair, Brendan Carr claims show’s suspension stemmed from poor ratings, instead of federal pressure.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr has downplayed his role in the recent suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, insisting that the decision by ABC was not influenced by federal government pressure but driven by the show's declining ratings and decisions by local broadcasters.

Carr, a Trump-appointed commissioner, came under scrutiny after comments he made on a conservative podcast last week. During the appearance, Carr warned ABC and its affiliates to "take action" on Kimmel or face potential consequences from the FCC. He suggested the agency might pursue “news distortion” complaints if broadcasters continued airing Kimmel’s program, following the comedian’s controversial remarks about conservative commentator Charlie Kirk’s death. Carr called Kimmel’s comments “some of the sickest conduct possible.”

Soon after, Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group, which collectively operate 70 ABC affiliates, preempted “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in several markets. ABC subsequently suspended the show indefinitely. Sinclair publicly thanked Carr for his stance, further fueling speculation that federal pressure played a role.

However, speaking at the 2025 Concordia Annual Summit in New York, Carr dismissed those claims, saying, “Jimmy Kimmel is in the situation that he’s in because of his ratings, not because of anything that’s happened at the federal government level.” He maintained that the FCC had not taken any formal action or expressed a position on potential complaints, and described his earlier remarks as hypothetical.

Carr also criticized what he described as “distortion and projection” from Democrats, some of whom accused him of violating free speech principles. He specifically denied threatening ABC’s broadcast license, as some lawmakers suggested. Even Republican Senator Ted Cruz, while pleased with Kimmel’s removal, criticized Carr’s approach, comparing it to mafia-style coercion.

Disney has since confirmed that Kimmel will return to air, though Sinclair stated it would continue to preempt the show pending further discussions, and recently Nexstar also made its position clear of not airing the show. Carr emphasized his support for empowering local stations, arguing they should have more say over content they deem in the public interest.