FCC chairman launches early review of ABC’s licenses to broadcast amid Trump-Kimmel feud

WASHINGTON (CBS, KYMA) - The FCC says its investigating ABC and its owner, The Walt Disney Company, for "possible violations" of "the agency's prohibition on unlawful discrimination."

On a podcast Tuesday, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr called out Disney's diversity, equity and inclusion practices.

"There's evidence that suggests that Disney was, you know, literally dividing and categorizing employees based on race and gender," Carr explained.

In a statement, Disney said, "ABC and its stations have a long record of operating in full compliance with FCC rules."

The FCC review come a day after President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump called on ABC to fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel for a joke he made in a mock roast of the president on his program last Thursday.

"Our First Lady Melania is here. Look at [her]...so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow," Kimmel joked.

On Monday, Kimmel defended the joke he made before the shooting Saturday at the White House Correspondents' Dinner attended by the president.

"It was not by any stretch of the definition a call to assassination, and they know that," Kimmel expressed.

On Tuesday, after President Trump said this about his parents, he said, "They were married for 63 years, and...if you don't mind...that's a record [Melania and I] won't be able to make, darling."

Late Tuesday night, Kimmel responded saying, "Only Donald Trump would demand I be fired for making a joke about his old age, and then, a day later, go out and make a joke about his own old age."

It's unclear how long the FCC's review may take, but Disney insisted it's "confident" ABC and its stations remain qualified to keep their broadcast licenses, and said Disney is "prepared to show that through the appropriate legal channels."