MSNBC has terminated its relationship with political analyst Matthew Dowd following comments he made during the network's coverage of the Charlie Kirk shooting. The incident, which occurred at Utah Valley University, sparked immediate backlash online, leading to Dowd's swift dismissal.
Dowd's Comments Spark Outrage
During the live broadcast, Dowd stated, "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. That’s the unfortunate environment we’re in." These remarks, made shortly after the shooting, were widely criticized as insensitive and inappropriate.
MSNBC's Response
MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler released a statement addressing the controversy. "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," Kutler stated on X (formerly Twitter).
Sources later confirmed to Variety that Dowd was fired later that Wednesday due to his "insensitive" words.
Strange Speculation
Dowd further fueled the controversy by suggesting that a supporter might have fired the gun in "celebration." He admitted, "We don’t know if this was a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration. We have no idea. We don’t know any of the full details of this."
Dowd's Apology
Following the uproar, Dowd issued an apology, stating, "My thoughts & prayers are w/ the family and friends of Charlie Kirk. On an ear...
Matthew Dowd joined MSNBC in 2022 after a lengthy tenure at ABC News.