January 1, Kimmel Faces Backlash Over FCC Rule Violation

Wyatt’s Take

• Kimmel accused conservatives without evidence, breaking trust.
• ABC dropped his show after new FCC pressure exposed double standards.
• Broadcasters now face consequences for distorting the truth on air.

Jimmy Kimmel told a lie on his late-night show, blaming the killing of Charlie Kirk on the ‘MAGA gang,’ though evidence showed otherwise. His claims crossed the line with the FCC, which prohibits spreading false information that could harm the public.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr took a stand, pushing ABC to rethink what it airs. His warning led to ABC taking Kimmel off the air, a move many say was long overdue.

BREAKING – Jimmy Kimmel is facing calls to publicly apologize after lying to millions live on air by claiming Charlie Kirk’s assassin was MAGA, with demands that if he doesn’t, ABC should have its broadcast license pulled or he should be fired. pic.twitter.com/cRUZucVNEo

— Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) September 17, 2025

Kimmel’s words were not just off base—they were reckless. The FCC says broadcasters can’t knowingly share false facts about serious events if it causes real harm, and that’s exactly what happened here.

ABC affiliates like Nexstar didn’t wait for more fallout. They announced Kimmel’s show would be replaced right away, saying his comments didn’t belong in the communities they serve.

I want to thank Nexstar for doing the right thing.

Local broadcasters have an obligation to serve the public interest. While this may be an unprecedented decision, it is important for broadcasters to push back on Disney programming that they determine falls short of community… https://t.co/Px5boYbqNR

— Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) September 17, 2025

Sinclair, the biggest ABC affiliate group out there, also spoke out. They called Kimmel’s words “inappropriate and deeply insensitive” and decided to honor Charlie Kirk instead during his old time slot.

pic.twitter.com/iMedHkjFqa

— Sinclair, Inc. (@WeAreSinclair) September 18, 2025

Cable channels may get away with bad language, but local TV has rules to protect the public. When a host lies about a tragedy, they risk losing their broadcast license, and that’s not covered by free speech.

Brendan Carr made it clear: “The public interest means you can’t be running a narrow, partisan circus and still be meeting your public interest obligations.” Local stations serve the people first, not Hollywood elites.

With Kimmel off the air, there’s hope these networks will get back to honest reporting.

Keep standing tall—your voice still matters in this country. Never be afraid to call out the media when they claim falsehoods as fact.

Wyatt Matters

This story proves that regular folks expect honesty from broadcasters, not partisan attacks. Protecting community values on public airwaves is worth the fight.

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