Anna Gomez, the only Democrat currently serving as a commissioner on the FCC, has spoken out in support ofDisney's decision to resume production on "Jimmy Kimmel Live." "I am glad to see Disney find its courage in the face of clear government intimidation," she said in a statement. "More importantly, I want to thank those Americans from across the ideological spectrum who spoke loudly and courageously against this blatant attempt to silence free speech. It will continue to be up to us as citizens to push back against this Administration's growing campaign of censorship and control." More from Variety Jon Stewart Celebrates Return of Jimmy Kimmel After ABC Suspension: 'Pretending That You Were Going to Cancel Hulu' Subscriptions 'Really Worked' Stephen Colbert Cheers Jimmy Kimmel's Return After ABC Ends Suspension: 'Our Long National Late Nightmare Is Over' Sinclair ABC Stations Won't Air 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' for Now, Will 'Evaluate Potential Return' "As this FCC considers steps that would let the same billion-dollar media conglomerates that caved in to government pressure grow even bigger, we must combat these efforts to stifle free expression," Gomez's statement continued. "I will keep fighting ensure local broadcasters have the independence to stand up to government threats." Gomez's statement runs in contrast to the position of Brendan Carr, the FCC's Donald Trump-appointed chairman. On Sept. 17, speaking about Kimmel's comment that monologue that "the MAGA gang" was attempting to portrayCharlie Kirk's assassin as "anything other than one of them,"Carr said on a podcast, "We can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to change conduct and take action, frankly, on Kimmel or there's going to be additional work for the FCC ahead." Hours later, Nexstar pulled "Jimmy Kimmel Live" from its ABC affiliate stations. The network halted production on the late night show after that. As Gomez noted, Kimmel's suspension was protested by people of varying political backgrounds. In addition to thewide support for Kimmel in Hollywoodand on the left, Republican politicians includingTed CruzandRand Paulpublicly disagreed with Carr's approach to the matter (though both also criticized Kimmel's comments about Kirk and noted Disney's right to take disciplinary action). Best of Variety Oscar Predictions: Contenders Emerge After Fall Festivals Including 'Hamnet,' 'One Battle After Another' and More New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Sign up forVariety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.
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