A MEDIA meltdown led to a massive news company letting go of a prominent political analyst.
Matthew Dowd has been let go after his insensitive comments made in reference to the Charlie Kirk assassination, which left the American right-wing political activist dead at Utah Valley University.
Matthew Dowd was fired from MSNBC after on air comments were deemed insensitive[/caption]
Charlie Kirk hands out hats before speaking at Utah Valley University moments before the shooting[/caption]
During MSNBC’s coverage of the shooting on September 10, Dowd was asked his thoughts on the “environment in which a shooting like this happened.”
“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 said live on air before Kirk had been confirmed dead.
“And I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions,” he said.
“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.”
He also said, “We don’t know if this was a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration,” implying the shooter may have been a Kirk supporter.
Kirk’s killer remains at large.
Dowd, a former chief strategist for the Bush-Cheney 2004 presidential campaign and an ABC News Political Analyst, was let go from the network the same day, according to The Independent.
MSNBC’s Public Relations team has since released a statement apologizing for the host’s remarks.
“During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable,” MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler said in a statement shared on X.
“We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise.”
Only one shot was fired, and the shooting has been described as a targeted political act of violence.
SOCIAL MEDIA BACKLASH
Dowd’s comments have garnered significant backlash on social media.
“Good riddance. But make no mistake about it he probably voiced how many of the intolerant left feel,” said Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy on X.
Timeline of Charlie Kirk shooting
Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was fatally shot in the neck while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University on September 10.
11:52 am MDT – The shooter, described as a college-age individual, arrives on campus before maneuvering onto a rooftop.
12:00 pm – Charlie Kirk is scheduled to host a debate in the UVU Fountain Courtyard.
12:10 pm – A shot is fired at Kirk from 200 yards away and hits him in the neck. The event is immediately evacuated and a man is taken into custody.
1:02 pm – President Donald Trump posts a call to pray for Kirk on Truth Social.
1:37 pm – UVU closes campus, cancels classes, and tells students to leave campus immediately.
1:50 pm – Officials confirm Kirk is in critical condition to the Associated Press.
2:40 pm – Trump confirms Kirk has died, hailing him “great, legendary” in a post on Truth Social.
4:21 pm FBI Director Kash Patel shares on X that the ‘subject for the horrific shooting’ is in custody.
4:30 pm – Utah Governor Spencer Cox, speaking at a press conference, brands Kirk’s death a ‘political assassination. Cox adds there is a ‘person of interest’ in custody and a man arrested earlier has been released.
7:59 pm – Patel, the FBI director, confirmed a second subject taken into custody in connection with Kirk’s shooting was released after being interrogated by law enforcement.
September 11
7:15 am – Officials hold a press conference where they announce they have “good video” of the suspect and they recovered the “high-action bolt rifle” in the nearby woods.
“They just weren’t dumb enough to say it out loud on Tv.”
“Shame on you Matthew, you should be fired for what you said, it does nothing but invites and justifies violence,” commented one X user.
One Instagram user described seeing people celebrating Kirk’s death on social media.
“The news broke: Charlie Kirk had been shot. Minutes later, my feed filled with celebration,” they said.
“Digital champagne corks popping over a dead father. Memes, jokes, smug applause. People cheering death like it’s the Super Bowl. This is what moral collapse looks like.”
DOWD RESPONDS
Dowd has since apologized for his tone and words on Bluesky and clarified he did not intend to blame Kirk for the attack.
“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,” Dowd said.
“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.”
Dowd puts out an apology after his comments received backlash (Stock Image)[/caption]
