Tim Pawlenty Discusses Consequences of Jimmy Kimmel’s Comments

Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty appeared on CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360” to share his thoughts on the impact Jimmy Kimmel’s remarks have had on his career. Pawlenty mentioned that Kimmel’s comments led to issues with his employer.

After Disney’s ABC announced the indefinite suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, speculation arose about whether this decision had ties to earlier statements made by FCC Chairman Brendan Kerr. Cooper inquired if Pawlenty believed the President or his aides would be justified in considering a revocation of the show’s broadcast license based on its coverage. Pawlenty responded by stating that public airwaves should serve the public interest, implying that Kimmel’s show has been overtly partisan for a considerable time.

“Interestingly, the FCC hasn’t actually taken any formal action,” Pawlenty noted. He remarked that one FCC member had spoken in favor of the show, emphasizing that there hadn’t been any official repercussions from the ABC side.

FCC Chairman Brendan Kerr had previously called Kimmel’s statements some of the most inappropriate he had heard, hinting at a potential pause for the network. Shortly after, Nexstar Media Group announced it would prevent Kimmel’s show from airing on its affiliate stations.

In a statement, Nexstar Broadcasting Division’s president criticized Kimmel’s comments as “aggressive and insensitive,” suggesting that cooler heads had prevailed in making the decision. Following this, an ABC representative confirmed that the show would indeed be taken off air for an indefinite period.

The controversy stemmed from Kimmel’s comments during a recent monologue, where he characterized the political climate surrounding the incident involving a suspect accused of being radicalized as a “new low.” He faced backlash for suggesting that certain Republicans were trying to reshape the narrative around the suspect.

Despite prior reports painting the suspect as deeply aligned with progressive ideologies, Kimmel doubled down on his critique of political commentary related to the event. He had also challenged Vice President J.D. Vance’s remarks about violence coming from the far left, stating that some were trying to exploit the situation.

Cooper asked Pawlenty if he thought Sinclair Broadcast Group, which oversees several ABC affiliates that halted Kimmel’s show, might have acted with a potential merger in mind. Pawlenty agreed, emphasizing that while it’s their right to express discontent, it’s also a business matter.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Kimmel defended himself, claiming some Republicans had misrepresented his words. Sinclair also released a statement indicating they would maintain the suspension until discussions regarding the network’s professionalism and accountability were conducted. They expressed a desire for Kimmel to apologize directly to the Kirk family and make a meaningful donation to them and Turning Point USA.