Comedy Mogul Tim Heidecker Calls Kimmel’s Suspension ‘the Results of Electing a Fascist’ — One Week After Suspect Labeled Charlie Kirk ‘Fascist’

The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel from Disney-owned ABC has sparked an unlikely defense from comedian Tim Heidecker, who rushed to frame the controversy as proof that America is living under a “fascist regime.” But his claims, made just days after the assassination of Charlie Kirk by a man who carved “Hey fascist! Catch!” into a bullet, highlight the reckless ease with which the left weaponizes words without considering their consequences.

Heidecker, who appeared at the premiere of his new horror movie Him, declared, “It’s a dark, dark time. It’s very scary. It’s happening very quickly, and we are seeing the results of electing a fascist and what it feels like to be living under a fascist regime.” His choice of words echoed almost exactly the rhetoric of the assassin who targeted Kirk. And yet, rather than exercising caution, Heidecker doubled down, treating the word as little more than a political prop.

The irony was hard to miss. While blasting supposed “fascism,” Heidecker wore a pin with the colors of the Palestinian flag—a territory controlled by Hamas, which has not held elections since seizing power in 2006. That authoritarian regime suppresses dissent, silences political rivals, and rules through intimidation and violence. The contrast between real tyranny abroad and exaggerated claims here at home underscores just how distorted the left’s language has become.

Heidecker went on: “I am sure Jimmy will be okay, but it’s very scary, and it’s absolutely state-sponsored censorship. The guy from the FCC said, ‘We can do this the easy way or we can do it the hard way.’ That’s like mob stuff. I’m very upset by it. Not that–late-night TV is not my thing, but that’s okay. I think he should be able to say what he wants, within reason. What he said didn’t seem that crazy. So yeah, it’s spooky.”

The problem with Heidecker’s claim is that it ignores how public broadcasting actually works. Brendan Carr, Chairman of the FCC, laid it out clearly during a conversation with commentator Benny Johnson. Carr explained that ABC and Disney, as federally licensed broadcasters, have obligations to operate in the public interest. With that license comes oversight—and when networks spread hoaxes that inflame tensions, accountability follows. Carr didn’t mince words: “This is a very, very serious issue right now for Disney. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to take action on Kimmel or there is going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”

He continued: “They have a license granted by us at the FCC, and that comes with it an obligation to operate in the public interest.” Carr went further, noting, “The FCC could make a strong argument that this is sort of an intentional effort to mislead the American people about a very core fundamental fact, a very important matter.”

That “core fundamental fact” was no minor slip-up. Kimmel repeated a BlueAnon hoax claiming Tyler Robinson, the suspect in Charlie Kirk’s assassination, was “MAGA.” In reality, Robinson was a far-left activist in a relationship with a transvestite, whose actions were motivated by an obsessive hatred of Kirk. By falsely tying Robinson to conservatives, Kimmel’s commentary poured gasoline on already volatile political fires.

What Heidecker calls “state-sponsored censorship” is, in reality, the government ensuring that federally granted airwaves aren’t abused to spread disinformation under the banner of comedy. Free speech has always meant the freedom to speak without government punishment—but it has never guaranteed a taxpayer-subsidized stage or a corporate network to foot the bill. Kimmel is not silenced. He remains free to express his views online, on tour, or even on subscription-based platforms. What’s at issue is whether Disney can use the public’s airwaves, subsidized by a massive corporate structure, to mislead the nation without consequence.

Heidecker’s outrage rings hollow when placed in context. A member of the Democratic Socialists of America, he reflects a wing of the left that thrives on alarmist rhetoric while refusing to acknowledge how its words contribute to escalating tensions. The fact that his defense of Kimmel came just a week after Kirk’s assassination—an act directly tied to similar “fascist” smears—shows how little introspection exists on that side of the aisle.

The bigger picture here is about responsibility. Words matter, especially in a political climate already marred by two assassination attempts on President Trump since 2024. When comedians, celebrities, and media figures toss around terms like “fascist” without care, they aren’t advancing debate—they’re endangering lives.

Jimmy Kimmel isn’t being dragged into censorship. He’s being asked to play by the same rules every broadcaster on public airwaves has to follow. He still has countless avenues to speak freely. That’s not fascism—that’s accountability. And if the left truly wants to preserve free expression, it might start by reining in its own reckless rhetoric before lecturing the rest of America.