Could FFC chair Brendan Carr have his eyes set on his next late-night target?
Nearly two months after ABC temporarily suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! over a comment host Jimmy Kimmel made during his Sept. 15 episode drew heat online, including from Carr, it appears he’s now keeping an eye on Seth Meyers.
On Saturday, Carr reposted one of President Donald Trump’s Truth Social posts, calling for Meyers, the host of NBC’s Late Night, to be fired.
“NBC’s Seth Meyers is suffering from an incurable case of Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS). He was viewed last night in an uncontrollable rage, likely due to the fact that his “show” is a Ratings DISASTER. Aside from everything else, Meyers has no talent, and NBC should fire him, IMMEDIATELY!” Trump wrote.
Carr didn’t add any additional comments to his repost on X, but the following day, he shared that he was visiting the president over the weekend. “Great to be with President Trump this weekend. President Trump’s policies are unleashing a new wave of growth and innovation in communities across the country,” the FCC chair wrote in another post on X, alongside a photo of him and Trump standing together.
The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to the FCC and NBC for comment.
In September, Carr ignited a free speech firestorm when he appeared to threaten the licenses of ABC affiliates that broadcast Jimmy Kimmel Live! during an interview on a conservative YouTube show. The FCC chair’s threats came after Kimmel made controversial comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” the comedian said on his Sept. 15 episode.
As a result, ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! for several days after two major owners of local TV stations and ABC affiliates — Nexstar and Sinclair Broadcast Group — said they would preempt Kimmel’s show due to his remarks.
Trump was among some Republicans celebrating Kimmel’s brief suspension from the air, while other politicians and Hollywood notables condemned ABC’s decision, calling it an attack on free speech. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz also criticized Carr’s comments at the time, calling them “dangerous as hell.”
Carr later denied that he meant to threaten affiliate TV licenses with his remarks. The FCC chair is also set to testify before the Senate Commerce Committee over his Kimmel comments.
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