Brendan Carr, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has been highly critical of Jimmy Kimmel following Kimmel's comments about the alleged killer of Charlie Kirk. Carr called Kimmel's remarks "truly sick" and "some of the sickest conduct possible." He suggested that there was a "strong case" for action against Kimmel and indicated that broadcasters who continued to air Kimmel's show might face scrutiny from the FCC over "news distortion" claims. Carr warned companies like Disney and ABC affiliates that they could "do this the easy way or the hard way," implying pressure to take action against Kimmel or face potential challenges with the FCC. However, Carr later distanced himself from the decision to suspend the show, saying the suspension was due to ratings and that the FCC had not taken a formal position on the matter. He has defended local TV stations that chose not to air Kimmel's show, stating they are serving the needs of their communities. Carr accused Democrats of "projection and distortion" in blaming the suspension on political censorship, arguing it was a business decision by Disney and local stations. Despite his strong language, Carr clarified that the FCC had not taken a stance on the merits of any complaints filed regarding Kimmel.
