Ex-ESPN presenter criticizes Bob Iger's alleged shift towards state-controlled media, following his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel's show
In a surprising turn of events, late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel has been removed from ABC's airwaves following controversial comments he made about the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.
Kirk, who was shot and killed last week while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University, was in a romantic relationship with a transgender partner who was biologically male and transitioning to female. In a recent episode, Kimmel accused 'the MAGA gang' of reaching 'new lows' in 'trying to characterize' 22-year-old suspect Tyler Robinson 'as anything other than one of them.'
Robinson, who held a 'leftist ideology' and was increasingly radicalized in recent years, has been charged with Kirk's murder. His actions have sparked a heated debate, with some questioning the motives behind his actions and others defending his right to free speech.
The decision to remove Kimmel's show from ABC was influenced by pressure from ABC's affiliate partners, with regulatory involvement from FCC chairman Brendan Carr. Carr threatened to withdraw ABC's licenses if the show aired, implicating ABC executives acting under this pressure and regulatory threat before the decision.
Nexstar Media Group, which owns hundreds of television stations, preempted Kimmel's show on its ABC affiliates starting Wednesday night 'for the foreseeable future' and replaced it with other programming. FCC chairman Brendan Carr issued a threat against Disney if it didn't address the controversy surrounding Kimmel's comments about Robinson.
The move has been met with criticism from various quarters. Dan Le Batard, a sports journalist, called Kimmel's comments 'some of the sickest conduct' and expressed concern about the media feeling the need to capitulate to a threat, potentially leading to state-run media. Le Batard also criticized Disney's Bob Iger for going through with the decision to pull Kimmel off the air, stating that it shows 'cowardice' and is not upholding the principle of free speech.
Meanwhile, thousands of people have mourned Kirk's death in vigils across the U.S. His funeral is set for Sept. 21, in Glendale, Arizona.
As the controversy continues to unfold, it raises important questions about freedom of speech, media responsibility, and the role of politics in shaping public discourse.
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[This article was contributed to by Jackson Thompson from our website Digital.]
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