US regulator to examine Disney broadcast licenses following Jimmy Kimmel’s Melania Trump joke
examine Disney broadcast: The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ordered an early review of Disney’s television broadcast licenses, following a controversial joke made by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel about Melania Trump. This decision comes amid pressure from the White House on Disney-owned ABC to fire Kimmel after he referred to Melania Trump as an “expectant widow.”
FCC’s review of Disney broadcast licenses
The FCC’s order requires Disney to file license-renewal applications for all of its licensed TV stations within 30 days. Although the ABC television station licenses were not scheduled for renewal until 2028, the agency is now conducting an early review to determine if Disney meets the FCC’s public-interest standards. The review could potentially lead to the revocation of the stations’ licenses to broadcast, an action that the commission has not taken in over 40 years.
In its order, the FCC mentioned it had been investigating Disney’s ABC stations for possible violations, including unlawful discrimination. A Disney spokesperson stated that ABC and its stations operate within FCC guidelines and have a long record of compliance, serving their local communities with trusted news, emergency information, and public-interest programming.
Context of the controversy and reactions
The controversy began when Jimmy Kimmel made a joke about Melania Trump having the glow of an “expectant widow,” days before a gunman fired shots at a gala attended by the Trumps. President Donald Trump called for ABC to pull Kimmel’s show, describing the joke as a “call to violence.” Melania Trump also criticized Kimmel for deepening “the political sickness within America.”
Kimmel defended his remarks on his show, describing them as a “very light roast joke” and denying any call to assassination. He also highlighted his long-standing advocacy against gun violence.
The White House Communications Director, Steven Cheung, stated that Kimmel should be “shunned for the rest of his life.” Meanwhile, Democratic FCC commissioner Anna M Gomez criticized the FCC’s order as “a political stunt,” calling it unprecedented and unlawful, and urged companies to challenge it, citing First Amendment protections.
Legal and political implications
Experts have noted that the FCC’s call to examine Disney broadcast licenses is rare and usually reserved for technical or fraudulent issues. Jeffrey Schneider, a law professor at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, described the move as likely political, intended to appease the administration’s supporters. He also noted that it is highly unlikely Disney would lose its licenses without evidence of intentional and repeated violations.
The FCC, established in 1934, regulates broadcasting frequencies and enforces rules on content, sponsors, and emergency broadcasts. The recent investigation into Disney’s diversity and inclusion practices was also mentioned in a letter from FCC chairman Brendan Carr last year, citing concerns about compliance with government regulations.