“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” found itself at the center of a significant media dispute, initially suspended by Disney after comments made by its host, Jimmy Kimmel, regarding the killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk were deemed “ill-timed and insensitive.” This decision was complicated further when two major TV station group owners, Nexstar Media and Sinclair, opted to preempt the show across their ABC-affiliated stations, a stance they maintained even after Disney announced the show’s return.

The controversy escalated with the involvement of FCC Chair Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee. On September 17, Carr publicly condemned Kimmel’s remarks as “some of the sickest conduct possible.” He subsequently threatened ABC and its affiliates, implying the FCC would investigate “news distortion” allegations unless they “take action” on Kimmel. Carr’s stern warning, “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” suggested a regulatory crackdown if broadcasters did not comply, advocating for local stations to preempt Kimmel’s show.

Following Carr’s strong statements, Nexstar Media Group, which operates 28 ABC affiliates, announced its decision to replace “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” with other programming, citing strong objections to Kimmel’s comments. Sinclair, with 38 ABC stations, quickly followed suit, even specifically thanking Carr for his remarks. In response to these preemption decisions, ABC initially suspended Kimmel’s show indefinitely, a move Carr publicly celebrated with a GIF.

However, after several days of internal discussions among top Disney brass and “thoughtful conversations” with Jimmy Kimmel, Disney announced on Monday that the suspension had ended, and the show would resume airing on Tuesday. Despite Disney’s reversal, Nexstar and Sinclair stood firm on their preemption, with Nexstar stating it would continue to do so “pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue.” Sinclair also maintained its preemption, citing “discussions with ABC are ongoing as we evaluate the show’s potential return.” These decisions meant nearly one-third of the roughly 240 national ABC stations, covering about 25% of the national TV viewing audience, would not carry the program.

Amidst the ongoing preemption, Brendan Carr later disavowed playing a part in Disney’s initial suspension of Kimmel. Speaking at the 2025 Concordia Annual Summit, Carr claimed Kimmel’s situation was due to “ratings,” not federal government intervention. He echoed former President Trump’s assertions about “bad ratings” and likened it to CBS’s cancellation of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.” Carr further explained that Nexstar and Sinclair had independently decided Kimmel’s show was not in the “public interest,” framing his earlier comments about “news distortion” as hypothetical discussions of potential FCC action, without expressing a view on the “ultimate merits” of such a complaint.

Carr’s actions drew significant criticism, with accusations of improperly exerting pressure on broadcasters and violating First Amendment rights. California Governor Gavin Newsom accused Republicans of not believing in free speech, while Senator Ted Cruz, despite disliking Kimmel’s comments, likened Carr to a “mafioso,” warning of dangerous precedents for future political censorship. David Letterman also made a “mafia” reference, questioning who was “hiring these goons.” Carr, however, blamed Democrats for “completely misrepresenting the work of the FCC,” denying any threat to revoke licenses.

The FCC Chair defended his overall approach by highlighting the agency’s goal to empower local TV stations and rebalance power within the media landscape. Carr articulated a desire to shift influence away from national programmers like Disney, Comcast, and Paramount, who are not licensed by the FCC and lack public interest obligations, towards local stations that, in his view, have a different perspective on content. He referred to a letter he sent to Disney CEO Bob Iger in November 2024, emphasizing the need to re-empower local broadcasters.

Carr also offered personal insights into the evolution of late-night television, expressing disapproval of what he perceives as a shift from “court jesters” who made fun of everyone to “court clerics” enforcing narrow partisan views. While framing these as personal musings rather than policy, he suggested that ultimately, “ratings in the audience” should judge this transformation. This sentiment, combined with the practical implications of station groups like Nexstar and Sinclair prioritizing local programming, underscores the multifaceted nature of the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” controversy.