The network’s president was compelled to apologize for “insensitive” remarks made by Matthew Dowd during a broadcast.
MSNBC has issued an apology following comments from its political analyst, Matthew Dowd, who suggested that the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk might have been caused by “a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration.”
These comments were made during live coverage on Wednesday afternoon, shortly after the news broke that Kirk, 31, had been shot while speaking to students at Utah Valley University.
As anchor Katy Tur discussed Utah’s firearm regulations, she turned to Dowd, who stated: “We don’t know if this was a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration.”
Dowd proceeded to characterize Kirk as “one of the most divisive younger figures,” adding: “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.”
Political analyst Matthew Dowd on MSNBC wonders whether the Charlie Kirk shooting may have been “a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration.”
— The Recount (@therecount)
The remarks quickly provoked a strong reaction online, with critics accusing MSNBC of minimizing the targeted nature of the incident and seemingly attributing blame to Kirk himself.
MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler issued a formal apology. “During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable,” she declared in a statement. “We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise.”
Dowd also provided his own apology later that day, posting on Bluesky that he “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.”