FCC Takes Aim at Disney: What This Means for Jimmy Kimmel’s Controversial ‘Widow’ Joke

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TV host Jimmy Kimmel[AP=Yonhap News file photo][AP=Yonhap News file photo]

The Federal Communications Commission has targeted Disney after an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! in which the host joked that First Lady Melania Trump would be a \”future widow.\” The FCC told Disney—ABC’s parent company and the broadcaster of the show—to file license renewal applications by the 28th of next month, Reuters reported. The commission moved the renewal deadline up by more than two years from the originally scheduled October 2028 date and said the early review will cover eight ABC stations nationwide. The FCC said it has been investigating potential unlawful discrimination at ABC for the past year. The FCC has not revoked a broadcast license in more than 40 years; any attempt to do so would likely trigger lengthy proceedings in administrative courts. The action traces back to the March 23 episode, when Kimmel parodied the White House Correspondents’ Dinner—then two days away—and quipped, \”Mrs. Trump, you’re giving off ‘future widow’ vibes.\” On March 25, an armed assailant opened fire at a security checkpoint at the Hilton hotel where the dinner was held in what appeared to be an assassination attempt; the Trumps narrowly escaped injury. Melania publicly accused Kimmel of making statements that incite hatred and violence, and President Trump called for Kimmel to be fired. Kimmel defended the remark as satire aimed at the age gap between the 80-year-old president and his 56-year-old wife. #JimmyKimmel #Trump #Melania #Widow #Disney #ABC Yonhap News TV — story tips and inquiries: KakaoTalk/Line jebo23; Choi Jin-kyung (highjean@yna.co.kr)