ABC, it's parent company Disney, and Jimmy Kimmel have spent the past several months in a tense standoff with the Federal Communications Commission. But now, the late-night host and his network have found an unlikely ally in the battle over government censorship.
Earlier this year, FCC chair Brendan Carr announced that it would renew Disney's broadcasting licenses ahead of schedule. The government agency alleged it was tied to an investigation into diversity, equality, and inclusion practices at the company.
However, other critics argued the move actually developed as a form of payback targeting Jimmy Kimmel. The late-night host has long been a target of President Donald Trump, and his mock White House Correspondents' Dinner bit in April brought on increased scrutiny.
The FCC denied Kimmel was the issue and continued to apply pressure to ABC and Disney. But now, several prominent conservative groups are coming to defend Disney and by extension, Kimmel.
On Wednesday, a coalition of right-leaning organizations, including the Center for Individual Freedom, Citizens Against Government Waste, and Americans for Tax Reform, sent a letter to Carr urging him not to use the FCC's authority in a way that could eventually be turned against conservative media outlets or organizations. The letter argued Carr would set a precedent that would carry negative consequences beyond just punishing Disney and ABC.
Their intervention marks an unexpected development in what has become one of the most closely watched disputes between the FCC and a major television network. It also throws more weight behind Kimmel after some government officials spent months calling for his job.
The network previously made it clear they backed their late-night host. Disney showed no signs of rolling over and caving to FCC pressure. For some observers, it stood in stark contrast to the way Paramount and CBS responded to the Trump administration, ultimately deciding to cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in a move some saw as currying favor with the White House.
And while the latest letter from conservative groups doesn't end the FCC's investigation, it likely will have some influence over what comes next. Even groups that frequently disagree with Disney appear reluctant to endorse an expanded role for the federal government in policing television programming.
Kimmel remains on hiatus during his annual summer break. But if he does pick up on this news, it has to bring some satisfaction. He was always going to stick to his values and knew that his bosses had his back. Now he knows that even people on the other side of the aisle know right from wrong.
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