Hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions’: MSNBC fires analyst who refused to condemn the Charlie Kirk shooting

MSNBC has officially parted ways with political analyst Matthew Dowd following his controversial remarks about the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The network confirmed that Dowd is “no longer with the network” after he suggested on air that Kirk’s own “radical rhetoric” might have contributed to the violence that claimed his life.

During an appearance on Katy Tur Reports, Dowd, a former chief strategist for George W. Bush, said, “Hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions”. He also added, “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”. Dowd also commented on the circumstances of the shooting, saying: “We don’t know if this was a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration. So we have no idea about this.”

This whole situation is just awful, and it’s no surprise the network moved so quickly. Dowd’s comments were made during breaking news coverage of the shooting, which took place at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, where Kirk was kicking off a nationwide campus debate tour. Kirk, 31, was a co-founder of Turning Point USA and a very influential figure in conservative youth politics.

A reporter was fired after harsh comments toward Charlie Kirk

He was shot in the neck while speaking under a tent, and authorities are still searching for the suspect. It’s a tragedy, and to be fair, Dowd’s comments were incredibly insensitive and totally inappropriate for the moment. The backlash was immediate and fierce, with critics accusing Dowd of victim-blaming.

Within hours of the broadcast, MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler issued a statement on social media, calling Dowd’s comments “inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable”. She also apologized on behalf of the network, stating, “There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise”. The network almost immediately severed ties with Dowd, according to a report from Deadline that cited the “furor over remarks he made in the aftermath of the shooting”.

For his part, Dowd also issued an apology on his Bluesky account, saying his comments were not meant to blame Kirk for the attack. He wrote, “My thoughts & prayers are w/ the family and friends of Charlie Kirk”. He continued, “On an earlier appearance on MSNBC, I was asked a question on the environment we are in. I apologize for my tone and words”.

He was clear in his apology that he didn’t intend to blame Kirk, writing, “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.” Emotions are high during events like this, so it is somewhat understandable for people to speak before thinking.

The whole situation highlights the tense environment we’re in right now, where every word is scrutinized, especially in the immediate aftermath of a tragedy. Even with Dowd’s quick apology and clarification, the damage was done. It just goes to show you that a major network will not tolerate comments like these, especially when they can be seen as justifying or even speculating on political violence.

The network’s swift action really reiterates the common thinking during a tragedy. While there’s a place for political debate, there’s no room for “inappropriate” and “insensitive” commentary, especially when it’s aimed at a victim of violence or someone who just died.