‘Inappropriate, Insensitive and Unacceptable’: MSNBC President Condemns Analyst for Victim Blaming Charlie Kirk On Air Moments After Shooting
MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler issued an apology on Wednesday after MSNBC political analyst Matthew Dowd blamed Charlie Kirk for his own death shortly after the Turning Point USA founder was fatally shot at Utah Valley University.
“During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable,” said Kutler in a statement. “We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise.”
Shortly after Kirk was shot, MSNBC host Katy Tur invited Dowd onto her show to discuss the incident live on-air.
Dowd then bizarrely suggested that Kirk’s killing could have been the result of a Kirk supporter “shooting his gun off in celebration,” before blaming the Turning Point USA founder for his own death.
“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,” said Dowd. “And I always go back to hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.”
He continued, “You can’t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have, and then saying these awful words, and then not expect awful actions to take place. And that’s the unfortunate environment we are in.”
Dowd went on to apologize for his remarks in a social media post, writing, “My thoughts & prayers are w/ the family and friends of Charlie Kirk. On an earlier appearance on MSNBC I was asked a question on the environment we are in. 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.”
Reacting to the comments on Wednesday evening, Fox News host Jesse Watters called on MSNBC to fire Dowd “immediately.”
“I expect him to be terminated within 24 hours,” said Watters. “You can’t say Charlie deserved to die. You just can’t say that, and I hope he loses his job.”
