Newsday Apologizes for Publishing ‘Vile’ Charlie Kirk Assassination Cartoon
(AP Photo/Ed Betz, File)
Newsday has issued a full apology after publishing a political cartoon referencing the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk sparking condemnation from Republican leaders and calls for a boycott of Long Island’s only daily paper.
The syndicated cartoon, drawn by veteran illustrator Chip Bok, was published in Saturday’s edition.
The drawing depicted an empty bloodstained chair at a tent marked “Charlie Kirk” and “Prove me Wrong,” with an arrow pointing to “Turning Point USA,” Kirk’s conservative nonprofit.
Bok, a Pulitzer finalist, has drawn cartoons for national newspapers many times, including The Washington Post, New York Post, and Los Angeles Times.
Suffolk County Republican Party Chairman Jesse Garcia led the backlash as conservatives protested the image, demanding Newsday scrap Bok’s contract and apologize.
“Newsday—the only daily paper for Long Island—has crossed a line. By publishing a vile cartoon about the political assassination of Charlie Kirk, the paper has mocked tragedy, stoked division, and poured gasoline on the flames of political violence,” Garcia said in a statement to the New York Post.
“This isn’t journalism. It’s a reckless, partisan attack that blames the victim, silences free speech, and shames everything this country should stand for,” he added.
On X Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman branded the drawing “over the top despicable” and “unconscionable,” urging readers to “Cancel Newsday!”
Other readers piled on:
The newspaper initially posted a brief apology before issuing a longer statement on Sunday: “On Saturday, Newsday published a syndicated editorial cartoon referring to the assassination of Charlie Kirk that was insensitive and offensive… We deeply regret this mistake.”
The outlet went on to argue the intent behind the cartoon was to “suggest that Kirk’s assassination might be a turning point for healing our nation’s divide.”
Kirk was fatally shot during an on-campus event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.
