MSNBC has fired political analyst Matthew Dowd after controversial comments he made during the network’s live coverage of the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.
Dowd came under fire Wednesday when, during a segment anchored by Katy Tur, he described Kirk as “one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures … constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech.” (The video is available to view here)
He went on to suggest that “hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions,” drawing immediate criticism from viewers who accused him of blaming the victim.
The backlash was swift, forcing MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler to issue a public apology.
“During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable,” Kutler said in a statement. “We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise.”
By Wednesday evening, network executives confirmed Dowd had been terminated. The dismissal capped less than 24 hours of mounting outrage directed at both Dowd and Tur, who also faced criticism for speculating that former President Donald Trump would use the shooting “as justification for something.”
In a post to Bluesky before his firing, Dowd apologized for his comments.
“I apologize for my tone and words,” he wrote. “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, 31, was killed Wednesday after being shot while speaking under a white tent on the Orem campus of Utah Valley University. Video posted to social media showed him clutching his neck as blood streamed down his shirt before collapsing. He was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition and later pronounced dead, officials said.
Trump confirmed Kirk’s death in a post on Truth Social, calling him “the Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk” and ordering flags flown at half-staff. “He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now he is no longer with us,” Trump wrote.
Law enforcement officials initially said a suspect was in custody, but later retracted the claim. Orem Mayor David Young said a person widely seen in social media videos being detained by campus security was not the shooter. Police continued canvassing the area surrounding the campus late Wednesday, distributing photos of a person of interest.
Kirk’s appearance at Utah Valley University had already sparked controversy. An online petition urging the school to cancel the event attracted nearly 1,000 signatures, but administrators defended the decision on free speech grounds, saying they had a “commitment to free speech, intellectual inquiry, and constructive dialogue.”
As co-founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, Kirk was a polarizing but influential figure in conservative politics, building one of the country’s largest youth-focused right-wing organizations. His podcast, distributed by Salem Media Group, consistently ranked among the most-popular shows in the United States.
The shooting drew bipartisan condemnation. California Governor Gavin Newsom called the attack “disgusting, vile, and reprehensible.”
