Jimmy Kimmel could be facing a federal investigation over his Charlie Kirk comments, as President Trump threatens critical broadcasters.
Kirk, an American right-wing political activist, was assassinated while addressing an audience on the campus of Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah, United States.
The founder of the conservative youth activist organization Turning Point USA was killed during a campus event as part of what was described as his American Comeback Tour.
Authorities identified 22-year-old Tyler Robinson as the suspect who allegedly fatally shot conservative activist and father of two.
Robinson appeared virtually for his first court hearing since he was formally charged on seven counts, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty.
In the aftermath of Kirk’s assassination, late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel made remarks during his Monday night monologue that would spark a national controversy.
Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been taken off the air following comments the host made in his show on Monday night in the wake of the killing.
During his show, Kimmel criticized what he characterized as political opportunism surrounding Kirk’s death.
According to the documents, Kimmel suggested that the ‘MAGA gang’ was attempting to distance itself from the shooter and use the tragedy for political gain.
He also mocked President Trump’s reaction to Kirk’s death, comparing the president’s response to ‘how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.’
“Jimmy Kimmel Live will be pre-empted indefinitely,” a spokesperson for ABC said in a statement.
The decision came after mounting pressure from federal regulators and affiliate stations. Kimmel’s show was pulled amid public pressure from Carr and ABC affiliates.
The network’s decision has set off widespread controversy, with many of Kimmel’s famous friends calling it censorship, while others argue the move was justified.
“Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social on Wednesday night. “Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s…”
However, many in the entertainment industry have condemned the move.
“Cowering to threats, ABC and the biggest owner of its affiliate stations gave the Trump FCC chairman exactly what he wanted by suspending Kimmel indefinitely and dropping the show,” said Christopher Anders, director of the Democracy and Technology Division at the American Civil Liberties Union.
The situation escalated when Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr became involved, threatening regulatory action against ABC and its parent company, Disney.
According to the documents, reported by Reuters, Carr accused Kimmel of ‘appearing to directly mislead the American public’ and demanded corrective action.
The investigation appears to center on whether Kimmel’s comments violated broadcasting standards or constituted improper conduct that could warrant FCC intervention.
Carr reportedly told broadcasters they could address the situation ‘the easy way or the hard way,’ suggesting potential regulatory consequences for stations that continued to air Kimmel’s content.
Several major broadcast station groups, including Nexstar Media and Sinclair Broadcasting, announced they would no longer carry Kimmel’s show, citing concerns about the controversial remarks and potential regulatory repercussions.
While the full scope of any federal investigation remains unclear, the situation has raised questions about potential charges related to broadcasting regulations, public communications standards, and the intersection of free speech rights with federal oversight of television content.
The FCC’s involvement suggests that regulatory violations, rather than criminal charges, may be the primary focus of any investigation.
