MSNBC Apologizes After Conservatives Rage When a Guest Suggested That Charlie Kirk Shot By 'Supporter' and Other Comments On Air

Conservatives reacted with fury on Wednesday after an MSNBC guest speculated on air that Charlie Kirk may have been shot by one of his own supporters. The remarks came before Kirk's death was officially confirmed and ignited immediate backlash across social media. Then they got even more upset when another guest implied that the murder was a consequence of Kirk's political positions.

The outrage on social media led to an apology from the network.

It all started during a live segment covering the breaking news, in which political consultant Matthew Dowd floated the possibility that the fatal shot could have come from a supporter celebrating with a firearm. The suggestion, made without evidence, was seized upon as irresponsible by many of Kirk's allies and followers.

The apology was posted on MSNBC's Public Relation's account on X (Twitter) in the name of its president Rebecca Kutler:

"During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable. We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise."

Charlie Kirk, 31, was shot in the neck while addressing students at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, as part of his American Comeback Tour. Witnesses said the shot came from a distance as he began a Q&A session. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later died. Authorities detained one person, who was subsequently released, and the FBI and ATF are leading the ongoing investigation.

Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA in 2012, rose to prominence as one of the most influential young conservative voices in America. Beyond his work on campuses, he hosted The Charlie Kirk Show, which reached hundreds of thousands of listeners daily. Known for his uncompromising defense of the Second Amendment, Kirk often argued that gun rights were non-negotiable. In 2023, he made headlines by saying that some firearm deaths were "unfortunately worth it" to preserve those rights.

The MSNBC comments triggered swift outrage online. "What will it take to get this network off the air forever? How much??? When is it enough??" wrote one user. Another called the speculation "disgusting," while a supporter using the handle @getfree31 said, "Somebody needs to pull the plug on this broadcast. This gal is going to single-handedly make sure no one ever tunes in to MSNBC again."

Representative Tim Burchett went as far as to write: "Everyone at MSNBC needs to be fired!"

Others expressed disbelief that the idea of a supporter being responsible could even be raised. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME? You're gonna sit there with a straight face and tell me a supporter of Charlie Kirk doesn't know basic gun safety? And just accidentally fires off a neck shot?" one tweet read. Another user wrote, "That was a sniper shot. You could hear how far away this shot was."

Many posts framed the speculation as an attempt to spin the story while facts were still emerging. "Unreal. Trying to spin this already. There are no words to describe my dislike for a party I once was a part of," one former Democrat wrote. Another user added, "Shut them down. It's platforms like them that create monsters like the coward who shot Charlie."

The anger underscored Kirk's significance within conservative politics, where his activism and media presence made him a leading figure in the culture wars. His death has left a major void in the movement he helped shape, while the investigation into his killing continues.

For many of his supporters, the MSNBC speculation served as a flashpoint in the broader battle over media trust, political rhetoric, and respect for a man who built his career defending gun rights and conservative ideals.