UFC middleweight contender Sean Strickland has voiced opposition to the Federal Communications Fee’s strain marketing campaign in opposition to ABC that led to the indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night tv present. The controversial fighter defended rules of free speech whereas denouncing authorities interference in broadcast programming selections.
Strickland shared his place throughout a number of social media posts, stating that whereas he holds no private affection for Kimmel, the FCC overstepped its authority within the scenario. “Unpopular take however the FCC overstepped with Jimmy Kimmel… He didnt get canceled. ABC was threatened by FCC Chair appointed by Trump on a podcast,” Strickland wrote.
The 33-year-old California native, who presently holds the quantity three rating within the UFC middleweight division, emphasised that authorities businesses mustn’t function political weapons. “F*ck Jimmy Kimmel however the authorities shouldn’t be used as a political weapon,” he added in his preliminary assertion.
Background on the Controversy
The dispute originated from remarks Jimmy Kimmel made throughout his Monday night time tv broadcast concerning the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kirk, the 31-year-old founding father of Turning Level USA, was fatally shot by 22-year-old Tyler Robinson throughout a campus occasion at Utah Valley College on September 10, 2025.
Throughout his monologue, Kimmel criticized what he termed “the MAGA gang” for trying to distance themselves from the shooter, stating they had been “desperately making an attempt to characterize this child who murdered Charlie Kirk as something apart from considered one of them”. Courtroom paperwork later revealed that Robinson had shifted towards leftist political opinions and focused Kirk on account of his conservative messaging.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s Response
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who was appointed to steer the fee by President Trump in November 2024, appeared on conservative commentator Benny Johnson’s podcast Wednesday to handle Kimmel’s feedback. Carr characterised the host’s remarks as “actually sick” and advised potential regulatory motion in opposition to ABC and its father or mother firm Disney.
“We are able to do that the simple method or the arduous method,” Carr warned throughout the podcast look. “These corporations can discover methods to take motion on Kimmel or there may be going to be further work for the FCC forward”.
The 46-year-old FCC chair has served with the fee since 2012 and contributed to the conservative Venture 2025 coverage doc. His strategy represents a big shift in how the FCC workout routines its regulatory authority over broadcast licensees.
Business and Political Response
Inside hours of Carr’s statements, main broadcast station homeowners Nexstar and Sinclair introduced they’d take away Kimmel’s program from their ABC-affiliated stations. Nexstar, which operates 28 ABC associates, described Kimmel’s feedback as “offensive and insensitive at a crucial time in our nationwide political discourse”.
ABC subsequently introduced the indefinite suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Reside!” with out offering particular reasoning for the choice. The community’s selection drew instant criticism from lawmakers and free speech advocates who characterised it as capitulation to political strain.
President Trump praised ABC’s motion, writing on Reality Social that it represented “Nice Information for America” and claiming Kimmel had been terminated on account of poor rankings. Some leaders referred to as for Carr’s resignation, accusing him of corrupt abuse of energy.
Sean Strickland’s Place on Authorities Overreach
Strickland offered further context for his criticism of the FCC’s actions, explaining that Carr had threatened regulatory penalties throughout his podcast look. “On that podcast, FCC Chair Brendan Carr mentioned Jimmy Kimmel’s latest remarks and mentioned broadcasters want to reply both the simple method or the arduous method or else the FCC may take regulatory steps,” the fighter wrote.
The UFC veteran has constructed a repute for outspoken commentary on political and social points all through his profession. Born in Anaheim, California in 1991, Strickland overcame a tough childhood marked by home violence to turn out to be an expert blended martial artist in 2008. He captured the UFC Middleweight Championship in September 2023 earlier than shedding it to Dricus Du Plessis in January 2024.
Authorized and Constitutional Issues
First Modification specialists have criticized Carr’s actions as potential authorities overreach that threatens free speech protections. The Basis for Particular person Rights and Expression characterised the FCC chairman’s habits as “unconstitutional jawboning” – the improper use of threatened authorities motion to realize coverage goals.
Authorized students famous that whereas the FCC maintains authority to control broadcast licensees below the “public curiosity” normal established by the Communications Act of 1934, this energy has constitutional limitations. The company’s personal web site acknowledges that “the general public curiosity is greatest served by allowing free expression of views” moderately than suppressing speech.
The controversy has raised questions in regards to the Trump administration’s strategy to media regulation and the suitable boundaries of FCC authority. Critics argue that utilizing regulatory strain to affect programming selections units a harmful precedent for presidency management over broadcast content material.
Brendan Carr
Brendan Carr is taken into account a detailed ally of Donald Trump. Trump first appointed Carr to the Federal Communications Fee as a Republican commissioner in 2017 throughout his first presidency. In November 2024, Trump then elevated Carr to chairman of the FCC, calling him “a warrior for Free Speech” and praising him as somebody who “has fought in opposition to the regulatory Lawfare that has stifled Individuals’ Freedoms.”
Most just lately, Trump publicly praised Carr’s aggressive strategy to media regulation, stating “I believe Brendan Carr is excellent. He’s a patriot. He loves our nation, and he’s a troublesome man” in response to Carr’s actions in opposition to Jimmy Kimmel.
Carr authored the FCC chapter for Venture 2025, the conservative Heritage Basis’s coverage blueprint for a second Trump administration. In his chapter, he outlined plans to “rein in Large Tech” and regulate what he characterised as censorship by expertise and media corporations. This contribution considerably raised his profile inside conservative circles and demonstrated his alignment with Trump’s coverage agenda.
Since changing into FCC chairman, Carr has pursued investigations and actions that intently mirror Trump’s acknowledged grievances in opposition to media corporations. He has threatened regulatory motion in opposition to broadcasters that air content material crucial of Trump.
