FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, speaking on conservative podcaster Benny Johnson’s show, said he is considering an investigation into Jimmy Kimmel and ABC over Kimmel’s recent comments about Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk in Orem, Utah. Kimmel suggested conservatives were wrongly trying to claim Robinson as one of their own, which angered right-wing audiences.

Carr described Kimmel’s remarks as “some of the sickest conduct possible” and warned ABC and its parent company, Disney, that such politically charged content could jeopardize their broadcast license, citing potential FCC standards violations.

Possible consequences include suspending Kimmel’s show. Carr noted that political bias on air violates the broadcaster’s obligation to serve the public interest.

Kimmel has refused to apologize, signaling resistance to political pressure. This stance unsettled ABC leadership amid growing backlash from affiliates, advertisers, and broadcast groups like Sinclair and Nexstar, who threatened to pull ABC programming in some markets.

Carr referenced President Trump’s attacks on legacy media and recent cancellations and resignations at major outlets, framing the issue as part of a broader media accountability debate.

He concluded that Disney must act “the easy way or the hard way,” implying FCC enforcement could intensify if ABC doesn’t address the controversy.