In a case of mistaken identity, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is taking some of the heat for a decision made on the other side of the world, and in doing so, has been pulled into the maelstrom that is United States politics.
The ABC has been inundated with criticism of its namesake American network’s decision to pull outspoken television host Jimmy Kimmel off air because of his remarks about the murder of right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk.
“We have received hundreds of complaints about the axing of Jimmy Kimmel, but it’s not us,” ABC Radio Melbourne breakfast show host Charnelle Vella told listeners.
She said ABC put out a post on Instagram saying: “Stop emailing us. We’re not the ABC that fired Jimmy Kimmel”.
Some of the comments sent to the Australian Government-owned broadcaster:
"What You Did To Jimmy Kimmel Is Against The Constitution and I Will Be Boycotting ABC. When you bend your knees to the president, you've gone too far. America is not happy with ABC."
"I will contact and boycott ALL business that sponsor ABC's shows!"
"I will NEVER watch ABC again — Free speech is gone. Go Jimmy Kimmel!"
As the ABC reported in this story, the message was intended for the American Broadcasting Company, also known as the ABC and owned by the Walt Disney Company, which decided to pull the Jimmy Kimmel Live! Show off air.
A major group of ABC‑affiliated stations run by Nexstar Media Group had criticised comments made by Kimmel during his opening monologue as “offensive and insensitive.”
Nexstar owns or partners with more than 200 stations in 116 U.S. markets and reaches 220 million people.
The late-night talk show's host suggested Kirk's alleged killer may have been a pro-Trump Republican.
"We hit some new lows over the weekend, with the MAGA (Make America Great Again) gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it," Kimmel said.
U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Brendan Carr threatened to revoke the broadcast licences of local television stations that carried such "garbage", saying: "We can do this the easy way or the hard way.”
