Robert De Niro Goes Into Full Mafia Mode In Kimmel FCC Spoof

Robert De Niro returned to late-night television on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Tuesday with a mock video-call performance that cast him as the Federal Communications Commission’s feared new boss. In the spoof, De Niro’s character greets host Jimmy Kimmel and targets Donald Trump and FCC Chair Brendan Carr as Kimmel prepared to address a controversy surrounding the program. The sketch arrived as Kimmel’s return to late-night refocused public attention on questions about free speech, regulation and political pressure in broadcasting.

In the bit, De Niro appears as the FCC’s top official and opens by signaling a hard-edged, mob-style persona. He appears to issue a threat regarding complaints about remarks by conservative commentator Whoopi Goldberg, the longtime co-host of The View, prompting Kimmel to suggest that the Trump-aligned FCC might be employing “mob tactics” to suppress dissent. The performance leans on De Niro’s iconic film-brand of intimidation as a vehicle for satire about regulatory power and speech online and on television.

The dialogue grows a bit sharper as the actor proclaims, “What the fuck did you just say to me?” in a staged exchange that reflects the tension between media figures and the regulatory environment. Kimmel replies that cursing could draw FCC fines, to which De Niro retorts, “I am the FCC. I can say whatever the fuck I want,” before adding that he is “gently suggesting that you gently shut the fuck up.” The scene plays into a broader satire of how political and regulatory pressure can intersect with late-night television.

The spoof arrives against the backdrop of a broader dispute surrounding Carr’s criticisms of Kimmel over the host’s remarks about Charlie Kirk. Observers connected Carr’s public attacks to the attention surrounding ABC’s decision to suspend the show, highlighting how the clash between a high-profile network, its programming and regulatory criticism has become a focal point in the culture-and-entertainment landscape. The skit, delivered during a moment of renewed attention to free-speech debates in media, demonstrates how comedy continues to be used to comment on regulatory debates and the boundaries of satire.

There was no immediate comment from ABC provided as part of the segment, and representatives for the show did not issue additional public remarks at the time of broadcast. The performance stands as a pointed, theatrical extension of ongoing conversations about speech, satire and accountability in contemporary U.S. media.