FCC was not the biggest influence for Kimmel firing: Joe Concha
The article from the Washington Examiner features Senior Writer Joe Concha’s commentary on the recent firing of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. Concha argues that the decision to pull kimmel’s show was not due to pressure from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), as some have suggested, but rather the result of ABC affiliates’ displeasure and Kimmel’s own controversial remarks. Kimmel had implied that the shooter involved in the Charlie Kirk incident was connected to the “MAGA movement” and accused Republicans of exploiting the tragedy for political gain. Following these comments, ABC affiliates owned by Nexstar chose to stop airing *Jimmy Kimmel Live!*, and ABC itself indefinitely suspended the show.
Concha emphasizes that neither the FCC nor other parties are responsible for Kimmel’s firing – it was a business decision driven by viewership and affiliate support, with 62 ABC affiliates opting out of carrying the program. He also points out that Charlie Kirk is the true victim in the situation, dismissing claims that others involved or commentators affected by fallout are victims themselves. The article also touches on the broader controversy, including concerns from Hollywood figures that the suspension might be an attempt to silence free speech amid nexstar’s pending $20 billion merger with Tegna and FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s threat to revoke ABC’s affiliate licenses if Kimmel was not reprimanded.
ABC affiliates and Jimmy Kimmel’s comments are to blame for firing, not the FCC: Joe Concha
Washington Examiner Senior Writer Joe Concha said it was the ABC affiliates and Jimmy Kimmel’s own words, not the Federal Communications Commission, that influenced the late-night host’s firing.
“In the end, the FCC had nothing to do with this; it was the affiliates and Jimmy Kimmel’s own words and his responsibility that this happened,” Concha said. “No one else’s [fault]. He is not the victim.”
Concha elaborated on this point, saying Matthew Dowd, the MSNBC contributor whose comments on the network in the wake of the Charlie Kirk shooting led to his firing, and Tyler Robinson, the alleged Kirk shooter, are not the victims.
“They’re not the victims. Charlie Kirk is the victim, and we’re not going to lose sight of that despite all of these distractions,” Concha said.
In Monday night’s broadcast, Kimmel suggested that the shooter was part of the “MAGA movement” and that Republicans were using Kirk’s death to score political points.
Nextstar announced on Wednesday that its affiliated ABC stations would no longer broadcast Jimmy Kimmel Live!, following Kimmel’s comments. ABC, which The Walt Disney Corporation owns, announced shortly after that it would be pulling Kimmel indefinitely.
Nexstar said in its statement that it “strongly objects to recent comments made by Mr. Kimmel concerning the killing of Charlie Kirk.”
Hollywood and other media figures spoke out following ABC’s announcement, arguing that the decision was an attempt to silence Kimmel and prevent free speech due to the forthcoming Nexstar merger.
WHO IS FCC CHAIRMAN BRENDAN CARR, THE MAN AT THE CENTER OF THE KIMMEL SUSPENSION CONTROVERSY?
Nexstar is currently seeking approval from the FCC for a multibillion-dollar merger with Tegna. ABC announced its decision hours after FCC Brendan Carr threatened to revoke the network’s affiliate licenses if Kimmel was not reprimanded.
Concha said Kimmel was fired “based on the numbers.” “Numbers only, not giving my opinion [and] not getting emotional. Sixty-two affiliates of ABC said they did not want to carry Jimmy Kimmel Live! anymore,” Concha said. “You see all these other people on MSNBC and CNN living in this fantasy world that says, ‘oh well, that should be OK, keep Jimmy on the air more so we can lose more money for our network.’”
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