Sen. Mullin Defends ABC Against FCC Chairman’s Threats
On Sunday, Sen. Mark Wayne Mullin (R-Okla.) expressed that he didn’t share concerns raised by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) regarding free speech in the wake of FCC Chairman Brendan Kerr’s warning to ABC. This warning followed comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s joke about Charlie Kirk’s assignment.
During a CNN interview about the situation, Mullin was asked if he felt aligned with Cruz’s worries. Cruz had characterized the government’s stance as dangerous, suggesting it could dictate acceptable speech, with threats of action against those it disagrees with.
Mullin, however, disagreed with Cruz. “What I want to emphasize is that ABC’s executives have the right to make their own decisions,” he stated. He drew a parallel to Fox’s choice to part ways with Tucker Carlson, noting that private companies can shape their content as they see fit.
CNN’s Dana Bash commented that, unlike ABC, he felt pressured by government surveillance regarding future regulations and mergers. Mullin countered, saying that Kerr’s threats seemed more performative and that Kimmel’s jokes were indeed inappropriate.
Kerr had previously described Kimmel’s suggestion regarding Kirk’s murder as “really, really sick,” urging ABC to consider public interest. He mentioned that companies could take straightforward actions regarding Kimmel’s behavior.
Kerr’s remarks have faced backlash from Democrats on Capitol Hill, including Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (NY). Following these events, Disney and ABC announced an indefinite suspension of Kimmel’s show, citing that his recent commentary was unacceptable.
Nexstar Media Group stated on Wednesday that it would be taking “Jimmy Kimmel Live” off-air due to these comments, promptly replacing it with alternative programming. ABC has since initiated a lawsuit regarding this suspension, and Nexstar condemned Kimmel’s remarks about Kirk’s murder.
