The channel’s president was pressured to apologize for “insensitive” remarks made by Matthew Dowd on air
MSNBC has apologized after considered one of its political analysts, Matthew Dowd, speculated that the deadly taking pictures of conservative activist Charlie Kirk may have been the results of “a supporter taking pictures their gun off in celebration.”
The remarks got here throughout reside protection on Wednesday afternoon, shortly after information broke that Kirk, 31, had been shot whereas addressing college students at Utah Valley College. As anchor Katy Tur mentioned Utah’s gun legal guidelines, she turned to Dowd, who mentioned: “We don’t know if this was a supporter taking pictures their gun off in celebration.”
Dowd went on to explain Kirk as “probably the most divisive youthful figures,” including: “Hateful ideas result in hateful phrases, which then result in hateful actions. And I believe that’s the setting we’re in… You possibly can’t cease with these type of terrible ideas you’ve got after which saying these terrible phrases and never anticipate terrible actions to happen.”
Political analyst Matthew Dowd on MSNBC wonders whether or not the Charlie Kirk taking pictures might have been “a supporter taking pictures their gun off in celebration.” pic.twitter.com/cW3IQzLEcD
— The Recount (@therecount) September 10, 2025
The feedback rapidly drew backlash on-line, with critics accusing MSNBC of downplaying the focused nature of the assault and showing to shift blame towards Kirk himself.
MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler issued a proper apology. “Throughout our breaking information protection of the taking pictures of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made feedback that have been inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable,” she mentioned in a press release. “We apologize for his statements, as has he. There isn’t a place for violence in America, political or in any other case.”
Dowd additionally issued his personal apology later within the day, writing on Bluesky that he “under no circumstances supposed for my feedback in charge Kirk for this horrendous assault. Allow us to all come collectively and condemn violence of any variety.”
Kirk, the founding father of Turning Level USA, was killed by a single rifle shot fired from a rooftop on the Orem, Utah campus. Authorities consider the incident was a focused assault, although the identification and motives of the gunman stay unknown because the suspect remains to be at massive.
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