Disney is suing the FCC in a departure from former CEO Bob Iger's strategy
Disney's ABC is pushing back against the FCC, alleging "blatant retaliation" against its content in a new lawsuit.
On Tuesday, Disney initiated legal proceedings against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), claiming that the agency is engaging in blatant retaliation against its content. This marks a shift in strategy from Disney's previous CEO, Bob Iger, who had previously adopted a more conciliatory approach. The suit comes after the Trump administration targeted ABC's speech, particularly regarding its journalists' reporting and its hosts' viewpoints.
Disney-owned ABC sued the FCC on Tuesday, alleging that the government agency is in violation of the First Amendment and attempting to influence editorial content deemed unfavorable to the president. The company seeks a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction to halt the FCC's review. The FCC, under Chairman Brendan Carr, initiated a review of ABC's broadcast licenses in late April following Trump's statement that ABC should fire comedian Jimmy Kimmel for a joke about Melania Trump.
Disney alleges that the FCC is conducting this investigation based on its disapproval of ABC's broadcasts. ABC's legal complaint contends that the FCC has orchestrated a retaliatory campaign against ABC solely because it disapproves of its broadcasts. The company's lawsuit also includes a screenshot of a post by Trump on Truth Social, expressing his dissatisfaction with ABC's negative coverage of him and the Republican Party.
Disney's new CEO, Josh D Amaro, has demonstrated a willingness to defy the Trump administration in his first five months in the position, contrasting with Iger's strategy of temporarily removing Kimmel from the air following conservative backlash over a joke about the reaction to Charlie Kirk's death.
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