Here we go again.
Just when you thought the drama between late-night TV and the political world couldn’t get any messier, it somehow finds a way to outdo itself. And this time, it’s not just social media outrage or a fiery press statement. Nope. Now we’ve got the Federal Communications Commission stepping in — again — and the stakes suddenly feel a whole lot bigger.
Related: Kimmel BLASTS ‘Nut Job Wannabe King’ Donald Trump’s State Of The Union Speech
In a move that raised plenty of eyebrows across the media world this week, the FCC has ordered Disney’s ABC-owned stations to fast-track their broadcast license renewals. And we’re not talking about something that was already on the calendar. These licenses weren’t even technically due for renewal until years from now. But suddenly, ABC has until May 28 to get everything in order. Convenient timing? A lot of people seem to think so.
The official reasoning centers on a supposed investigation into Disney and ABC’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices, and specifically whether they may have violated rules around unlawful discrimination. But let’s not pretend the timing isn’t raising eyebrows — especially since all of this comes right after Jimmy Kimmel cracked a joke about Melania Trump that sent certain corners of the internet into a full meltdown.
First, you should know that ABC is not backing down quietly. A spokesperson for Disney responded to Variety and others with the following:
“We have received the Federal Communications Commission’s order initiating an accelerated review of the licenses held by ABC’s owned television stations. ABC and its stations have a long record of operating in full compliance with FCC rules and serving their local communities with trusted news, emergency information, and public-interest programming. We are confident that record demonstrates our continued qualifications as licensees under the Communications Act and the First Amendment and are prepared to show that through the appropriate legal channels. Our focus remains, as always, on serving viewers in the local communities where our stations operate.”
Meanwhile, the FCC is making it very clear this isn’t just routine paperwork. The agency stated:
“The FCC has been investigating The Walt Disney Company, its American Broadcasting Company, and its subsidiaries (collectively, ‘Disney’s ABC’) for compliance with its obligations as a licensed broadcaster. Specifically, the FCC has been investigating Disney’s ABC stations for possible violations of the Communications Act of 1934 and the FCC’s rules, including the agency’s prohibition on unlawful discrimination.”
Whoa. Translation? This is serious business… at least on paper.
Related: Kimmel BLASTS ‘Trembling Drama Queen’ Trump In Parody WHCD Speech!
But critics are already sounding alarms, and accusing the FCC under chair Brendan Carr of targeting ABC over Kimmel’s late night content and political speech rather than any actual regulatory violations.
Democrat FCC commissioner Anna Gomez didn’t mince words when she slammed the move, saying:
“The effort to challenge the licenses of ABC/Disney-owned stations is the FCC’s most egregious attack on the First Amendment to date. But it will fail. This should be a lesson to media companies that no amount of capitulation to this Administration will buy them protection.”
And if that wasn’t spicy enough, other free-ranging free speech advocates are also piling on.
Bob Corn-Revere of the non-profit free speech and first amendment organization FIRE said:
“Brendan Carr’s FCC subjecting Disney-owned-and-operated television stations to an early license renewal proceeding because of jokes in a late-night monologue is viewpoint retaliation. The FCC may claim these actions are based on DEI policies and have nothing to do with Jimmy Kimmel, but its timing makes it clear these justifications are a fig leaf. This campaign against a disfavored broadcaster violates the First Amendment, pure and simple. The First Amendment requires those in government to be strong enough to take a joke — including ones that President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump consider to be in bad taste.”
And then there’s Jimmy himself, who isn’t exactly apologizing.
After the initial backlash to a joke he made about Melania looking like an “expectant widow” on his show last week — not long before the terrifying White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting occurred — he doubled down with this response on air the other day:
“[It was] a very light roast joke about the fact that he’s almost 80 and she’s younger than I am. It was not by any stretch of the definition a call to assassination. And they know that. I’ve been very vocal for many years speaking out against gun violence, in particular. But I understand that the First Lady had a stressful experience over the weekend. And probably every weekend is pretty stressful in that house. And also, I agree that hateful and violent rhetoric is something we should reject. I do. And I think a great place to start to dial that back would be to have a conversation with your husband about it.”
Not exactly a peace offering…
So where does this all go next? The legal battles could drag on for months, if not years, it would seem. And goodness knows that Trump and Kimmel have already been there and done that. But one thing is crystal clear: this isn’t just about a joke anymore.
Reactions, y’all? Share ’em (below)…
