Jack Dunn
Wed, September 10, 2025
at 8:08 PM MDT
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Political analyst Matthew Dowd has been fired from MSNBC after his comments about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, according to a network source.
During MSNBC’s coverage of Kirk’s shooting, anchor Katy Tur asked Dowd about “the environment in which a shooting like this happens.” Dowd responded with the following about Kirk: “He’s been one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures in this, who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups. And I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions. And I think that is the environment we are in. You can’t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and not expect awful actions to take place. And that’s the unfortunate environment we are in.”
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MSNBC Apologizes for Analyst Matthew Dowd's Commentary on Charlie Kirk's Death: 'Insensitive and Unacceptable'
The remarks sparked outrage across social media, and MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler issued an apology in response. She slammed Dowd’s comments as “inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable.”
“We apologize for his statements, as has he,” Kutler said in a statement shared to the MSNBC Public Relations X account. “There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise.”
Dowd issued his own apology for his commentary on his BlueSky account. He wrote, “I apologize for my tone and words. Let me be clear, I in no way intended for my comments to blame Kirk for this horrendous attack. Let us all come together and condemn violence of any kind.”
Kirk died on Wednesday after he was shot at a college event in Utah. He was 31 years old.
Donald Trump announced Kirk’s death on Truth Social on Wednesday afternoon. In his post, he wrote, “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”
VARIETY
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways
Political analyst Matthew Dowd has been fired from MSNBC after his comments about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, according to a network source.
During MSNBC’s coverage of Kirk’s shooting, anchor Katy Tur asked Dowd about “the environment in which a shooting like this happens.” Dowd responded with the following about Kirk: “He’s been one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures in this, who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups. And I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions. And I think that is the environment we are in. You can’t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and not expect awful actions to take place. And that’s the unfortunate environment we are in.”
More from Variety
MSNBC Apologizes for Analyst Matthew Dowd's Commentary on Charlie Kirk's Death: 'Insensitive and Unacceptable'
The remarks sparked outrage across social media, and MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler issued an apology in response. She slammed Dowd’s comments as “inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable.”
“We apologize for his statements, as has he,” Kutler said in a statement shared to the MSNBC Public Relations X account. “There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise.”
Dowd issued his own apology for his commentary on his BlueSky account. He wrote, “I apologize for my tone and words. Let me be clear, I in no way intended for my comments to blame Kirk for this horrendous attack. Let us all come together and condemn violence of any kind.”
Kirk died on Wednesday after he was shot at a college event in Utah. He was 31 years old.
Donald Trump announced Kirk’s death on Truth Social on Wednesday afternoon. In his post, he wrote, “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”
Matthew Dowd on MSNBC wonders if Charlie Kirk shooting may have been “supporter shooting their gun off in celebration.”
The Recount
Wed, September 10, 2025
Political analyst Matthew Dowd wondered Wednesday on MSNBC whether a Charlie Kirk supporter accidentally shot the Turning Point USA founder, shortly before Kirk was pronounced dead.
“We don’t know any of the full details of this yet,” Dowd said on “Katy Tur Reports” shortly after the shooting and before more details were revealed. “We don’t know if this was a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration or — so we have no idea about this.”
“He’s been one of the most divisive — especially divisive younger figures in this — who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups,” Dowd continued. “And I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.”
Kirk, 31, was shot in the neck in the afternoon during a Q&A with students at Utah Valley University. FBI Director Kash Patel said a suspect was in custody, although local officials confirmed only that a “person of interest” was in custody. The university said the shot came from a building about 200 yards away, and law enforcement said it was a “targeted attack.”
In the evening, MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler apologized for Dowd’s comments.
“During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable. We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise,” Kutler said in the statement.
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