Senator Ted Cruz has strongly criticized the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and its chairman, Brendan Carr, for their handling of the controversy surrounding late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. Cruz, a Republican from Texas, described Carr’s threat to revoke ABC’s broadcast license over Kimmel’s monologue as resembling “mafioso” behavior, reminiscent of scenes from the movie ‘Goodfellas’.
The dispute arose after Kimmel’s monologue on Monday, where he commented on the killing of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. Kimmel’s remarks, which included comparing Trump’s reaction to Kirk’s death to a child mourning a goldfish, were labeled “sick” by Carr. The FCC chairman argued that Kimmel had “directly mislead the American public” and suggested that ABC’s license could be at risk if action wasn’t taken.
While other Republicans have been more reserved in their criticism, Cruz took a firm stance, emphasizing that such government overreach in regulating media content could have dangerous long-term consequences, particularly for conservative voices. He warned that a precedent set by the FCC could be used by future Democratic administrations to silence opposing viewpoints.
The senator acknowledged that he personally disliked Kimmel’s comments and was pleased Kimmel was suspended, but he stressed the importance of protecting free speech principles. He argued that if the government begins banning or regulating media commentary, it could eventually lead to the suppression of conservative viewpoints.
President Donald Trump, usually a staunch ally of Cruz, expressed disagreement with the senator’s position, while other Republicans, like Senator Thom Tillis, sided with Cruz’s criticism of Carr’s “unacceptable behaviour.” Some lawmakers, like Senator Jerry Moran, cautioned against eroding free speech, highlighting the delicate balance the government must maintain.
Kimmel has remained silent on the suspension. However, fellow late-night hosts, including Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, and Stephen Colbert, have shown solidarity with Kimmel.
The controversy continues amid heightened tensions following Kirk’s death and discussions around political rhetoric. The US Senate recently passed a resolution to honor Kirk on his birthday, though it faced some opposition from Democrats.