The Hollywood Teamsters have joined their fellow entertainment unions in expressing dismay over the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, focusing their remarks on the evils of corporate consolidation in addition to their free-speech concerns.
Kimmel was yanked from the air on ABC on Wednesday after he made viral remarks that have been interpreted by some as suggesting that the shooter of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk was a “Make America Great Again” supporter.
“Teamsters Local 399 condemns the actions of the two largest station groups, Nexstar and Sinclair, as well as ABC/Disney, for their decision to indefinitely suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live! This will result in the loss of jobs for many union and guild members here in Hollywood,” the union — which represents more than 6,000 drivers, locations and casting professionals and animal trainers and wranglers, among others in the L.A. area — said.
The statement continued, “We are witnessing a dangerous trend of corporations trying to fast-track mergers through the back door. This reckless and greed-fueled consolidation of corporate power is a direct threat to good union jobs and the livelihoods of our members. Do not let the politics of the moment distract you — corporations are selling out working families and our American freedoms to amass even greater wealth.”
The statement referred to the fact that one of the largest owners of local television stations in America, Nexstar, announced on Wednesday that they had decided to pre-empt Kimmel’s show for the forseeable future.
Nexstar is awaiting approval of a more than $6 billion merger with Tegna from the Federal Communications Commission, and FCC chair Brendan Carr had made his feelings about Kimmel’s Kirk remarks known earlier in the day Wednesday. In an interview with a YouTuber, Carr suggested that affiliates’ licenses could be revoked if they continued to carry the show. A Nexstar executive denied to Variety that its decision was based on Carr’s comments.
Sinclair, a fellow affiliate conglomerate, also threatened to preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! in response to its host’s remarks.
Though the bulk of their criticism was targeted towards merger-hungry corporations, the union did spare some criticism for FCC chair Carr. “FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is not a politician — he is a regulator. The personal political opinions of any regulator should not result in job loss for ordinary, hardworking Americans,” the union stated. “We should not be watching our government actively encourage corporations to clamp down even harder on free speech. It’s inappropriate and lethal for our democracy and economy.”
The Teamsters are walking a fine line during the Trump administration, as the broader union’s general president Sean O’Brien has become a labor ally to the president and has even met with Carr regarding the Paramount-Skydance merger. The union has an unusual amount of access to the administration and is utilizing it to advocate for a federal film tax incentive.
The union pointed out these efforts — for which the industry is seeking bipartisan support — in the message. “As our industry struggles, Teamsters Local 399 will continue to call for federal film tax incentives to protect American workers and other legislation to bring work back to California. We must challenge any further consolidation within our industry, work together to create new guardrails and regulation for artificial intelligence and never stop fighting for our members and all entertainment workers.”