Democrat Zoran Mamdani, a candidate for New York City mayor, announced on Monday that he is canceling town halls in collaboration with New York’s WABC, following Disney’s decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel from his late-night show indefinitely.
This action by ABC was reportedly influenced by pressure from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) concerning remarks Kimmel made about the suspect in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“I am stepping back not to blame local affiliates or diligent journalists, but rather as a response to corporate leaders prioritizing profit over their duty to protect press freedom,” Mamdani stated at Franklin D. Roosevelt for Freedoms State Park.
“We can’t view this authoritarian moment as stemming solely from the White House. It’s evident in how individuals, especially during the pandemic, look towards established figures like Andrew Cuomo and Eric Adams for their future ambitions, including the current mayor of New York.”
Mamdani’s decision adds to the ongoing backlash against Disney’s choice to indefinitely pull “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” from air. Critics have labeled this as a severe infringement on free speech, while some in the White House and their allies argue that Kimmel’s comments were inappropriate for the current political climate.
Kimmel has accused conservative Republicans of attempting to gain political leverage from Kirk’s death. In a joking manner, he criticized President Trump while reflecting on Charlie Kirk’s situation. He even mentioned that the murder suspect was a “Maga,” despite reports indicating that the suspect’s political views have shifted leftward in recent years.
ABC’s decision emerged shortly after Nexstar Media Group, the parent company of The Hill, revealed that affiliate stations nationwide would be postponing Kimmel’s shows due to his contentious remarks. Nexstar made this declaration after FCC Chief Brendanker urged local broadcasters to address what he characterized as an implicit threat.
