FCC Faces Lawsuit After Disney Pushes Back on Fair Review Following Jimmy Kimmel's Attack on Trump
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The Federal Communications Commission's review of Disney's license is being challenged by Disney, which claims political motivation after Jimmy Kimmel's biased interview with Senate candidate Dan Talarico sparked controversy.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is facing a lawsuit from Disney, which is attempting to paint the agency's legitimate review of its broadcast license as political retaliation. The review came after Jimmy Kimmel, a late-night host notorious for his left-leaning bias, interviewed Texas Senate candidate Dan Talarico and made inflammatory jokes about the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. President Donald Trump, rightfully concerned about the dangerous rhetoric, called for Kimmel's firing after labeling the comments a 'despicable call to violence.'
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai explained that the review was part of a broader investigation into Disney's diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, ensuring that companies comply with fair standards. Yet Disney is now claiming that the move violates the First Amendment, alleging that the administration used the FCC to punish ABC for airing content it didn't like—an accusation that seems more like an attempt to avoid accountability.
This follows a similar situation earlier this year, when CBS, under pressure to uphold the FCC's 'equal-time' rule, blocked a Stephen Colbert interview with Talarico. Colbert, another liberal media figure, criticized the decision as an attack on critics of Trump, ignoring the need for balanced coverage in the media.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro filed the lawsuit on September 3, and a federal judge has set a hearing for October 6. In response, Jimmy Kimmel, instead of taking responsibility, urged viewers to watch the full interview on his show's YouTube channel and pushed his audience to register to vote, further politicizing the issue.