\n\t\t\t
\n Related: <\/span>Comcast Execs Ask Staff to Be \u2018Respectful\u2019 After Charlie Kirk Shooting<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\tComcast executives sent a letter to their employees on Friday, September 12, urging them to be respectful in their coverage of Charlie Kirk. The letter comes after MSNBC contributor Matthew Dowd was fired for comments he made on-air shortly after the conservative activist\u2019s death. Kirk died on Wednesday at age 31 after he was shot [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Others who were fired for their comments about Kirk\u2019s death included a Carolina Panthers staffer and school employees in Tennessee, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Mississippi, Ohio, according to The Hill<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\nKeep scrolling for a full rundown of people who lost their jobs over their reactions to the assassination:\n<\/p>\n
Matthew Dowd<\/h2>\n
Dowd \u2014 a former strategist for President George W. Bush<\/strong> and Vice President Dick Cheney<\/strong>\u2018s 2004 presidential campaign \u2014 was fired<\/a> for comments he made on MSNBC\u2019s news coverage of the assassination. He had been asked by MSNBC anchor Katy Tur<\/strong> about \u201cthe environment in which a shooting like this happens.\u201d<\/p>\n\u201c[Kirk has] been one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures in this, who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups,\u201d Dowd responded. \u201cAnd I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions. And I think that is the environment we are in. You can\u2019t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and not expect awful actions to take place. And that\u2019s the unfortunate environment we are in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hours later, Dowd was benched by MSNBC and ultimately dropped as a commentator, with MSNBC president Kutler issuing a public apology on behalf of the channel.<\/p>\n\n![\"GettyImages-2179971149](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-2179971149-Who-Was-Fired-From-Their-Jobs-Since-Charlie-Kirk-Death-e1757696819436.jpg?w=1000&quality=86&strip=all\")
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\n Charlie Kirk in October 2024.<\/span> Olivier Touron \/ AFP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cWe apologize for his statements, as has he,\u201d Kutler said in a statement. \u201cThere is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dowd clarified via X<\/a> that he \u201cin no way intended for [his] comments to blame Kirk for this horrendous attack.\u201d<\/p>\n\u201cLet us all come together and condemn violence of any kind,\u201d he wrote. \u201cMy thoughts & prayers are w\/ the family and friends of Charlie Kirk. On an earlier appearance on MSNBC I was asked a question on the environment we are in. I apologize for my tone and words.\u201d<\/p>\n
Charlie Rock<\/h2>\n
According to The Charlotte Observer<\/em><\/a>, Rock, the Carolina Panthers\u2019 communications coordinator, was fired<\/a> for tweeting: \u201cWhy are yall sad? Your man said it was worth it \u2026\u201d<\/p>\nHis tweet referenced a comment Kirk made in 2023 in support of gun ownership rights, in which the commentator suggested it was \u201cworth [it] to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe views expressed by our employees are their own and do not represent those of the Carolina Panthers,\u201d the NFL franchise wrote via X<\/a> on September 11. \u201cWe do not condone violence of any kind. We are taking this matter very seriously and have accordingly addressed it with the individual.\u201d<\/p>\nBobby Machado<\/h2>\n
A Fox Sports Las Vegas radio producer shared and subsequently deleted expletive-filled posts<\/a> in response to Kirk\u2019s assassination. Lotus Communications, the station\u2019s parent company, said in a statement it was \u201cdisturbed by a hateful and despicable social media post made by a now-former employee in Las Vegas.\u201d<\/p>\n\u201cThis post was made independently on the individual\u2019s social media account and in no way reflects the views or values of Lotus Communications, our stations, our employees or our valued partners,\u201d the statement continued. \u201cWe do not and will never condone this kind of rhetoric. The individual was terminated immediately and is no longer an employee of our company. We extend our sincere apologies for his horrible and offensive words.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n![\"Feature](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Feature-Josh-Duhamel-Jessie-James-Decker-and-More-Mourn-Charlie-Kirk-Death.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=400%2C225&quality=40&strip=all\")
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\n Related: <\/span>Josh Duhamel, Jessie James Decker and More Mourn Charlie Kirk’s Death at 31\u00a0<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\tHollywood stars are speaking out to mourn the death of controversial conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. News broke on Wednesday, September 10, that Kirk was shot and killed during a\u00a0 speaking engagement in Utah. He was 31. \u201cThe Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,\u201d President Donald Trump wrote via his Truth Social platform. \u201cNo [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Fox Sports Las Vegas publicly apologized for \u201ca team member [sharing] offensive comments on personal social media.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile we respect personal beliefs, we do not tolerate hate or discrimination. The individual is on leave. These views do not reflect Lotus Stations or our partners. We apologize sincerely,\u201d a message via X<\/a> read. \u201cThe employee has been terminated, and once again we do not tolerate hate or discrimination. These views do not reflect Lotus Stations or our partners.\u201d<\/p>\nGerald Bourguet<\/h2>\n
The PHNX Sports<\/em> writer was dropped by the news outlet for a tweet that took issue with some reactions to Kirk\u2019s death.<\/p>\n\u201c\u2018Political differences\u2019 are not the same thing as spewing hateful rhetoric on a daily basis, and refusing to mourn a life devoted to that cause is not the same thing as celebrating gun violence. Just so we\u2019re 100% clear on that,\u201d he wrote via X<\/a>.<\/p>\nPHNX Sports<\/em> announced on September 11 that Bourguet, a beat reporter for the NBA\u2019s Phoenix Suns, had been fired over the tweet.<\/p>\n\u201cThe opinions expressed by our employees do not represent the views of PHNX or ALLCITY Network,\u201d a statement read<\/a>. \u201cWe take matters involving violence very seriously and are committed to ensuring that ALLCITY remains a safe place for our employees and community alike. We have addressed this matter with the individual and made the decision to part ways.\u201d<\/p>\nLaura Sosh-Lightsy<\/h2>\n
USA Today<\/em><\/a> reported on September 11 that Sosh-Lightsy, Middle Tennessee State University\u2019s associate dean, posted that she had \u201czero sympathy\u201d over Kirk\u2019s death.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThank You!<\/h3>\n
You have successfully subscribed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
After being made aware of the comments, Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn<\/strong> publicly campaigned for Sosh-Lightsy to be fired by the university. She complained via X<\/a>: \u201cThis person should be ashamed of her post. She should be removed from her position at @MTSU.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
Keep scrolling for a full rundown of people who lost their jobs over their reactions to the assassination:\n<\/p>\n
Matthew Dowd<\/h2>\n
Dowd \u2014 a former strategist for President George W. Bush<\/strong> and Vice President Dick Cheney<\/strong>\u2018s 2004 presidential campaign \u2014 was fired<\/a> for comments he made on MSNBC\u2019s news coverage of the assassination. He had been asked by MSNBC anchor Katy Tur<\/strong> about \u201cthe environment in which a shooting like this happens.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c[Kirk has] been one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures in this, who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups,\u201d Dowd responded. \u201cAnd I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions. And I think that is the environment we are in. You can\u2019t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and not expect awful actions to take place. And that\u2019s the unfortunate environment we are in.\u201d<\/p>\n Hours later, Dowd was benched by MSNBC and ultimately dropped as a commentator, with MSNBC president Kutler issuing a public apology on behalf of the channel.<\/p>\n \u201cWe apologize for his statements, as has he,\u201d Kutler said in a statement. \u201cThere is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n Dowd clarified via X<\/a> that he \u201cin no way intended for [his] comments to blame Kirk for this horrendous attack.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet us all come together and condemn violence of any kind,\u201d he wrote. \u201cMy thoughts & prayers are w\/ the family and friends of Charlie Kirk. On an earlier appearance on MSNBC I was asked a question on the environment we are in. I apologize for my tone and words.\u201d<\/p>\n According to The Charlotte Observer<\/em><\/a>, Rock, the Carolina Panthers\u2019 communications coordinator, was fired<\/a> for tweeting: \u201cWhy are yall sad? Your man said it was worth it \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n His tweet referenced a comment Kirk made in 2023 in support of gun ownership rights, in which the commentator suggested it was \u201cworth [it] to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe views expressed by our employees are their own and do not represent those of the Carolina Panthers,\u201d the NFL franchise wrote via X<\/a> on September 11. \u201cWe do not condone violence of any kind. We are taking this matter very seriously and have accordingly addressed it with the individual.\u201d<\/p>\n A Fox Sports Las Vegas radio producer shared and subsequently deleted expletive-filled posts<\/a> in response to Kirk\u2019s assassination. Lotus Communications, the station\u2019s parent company, said in a statement it was \u201cdisturbed by a hateful and despicable social media post made by a now-former employee in Las Vegas.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis post was made independently on the individual\u2019s social media account and in no way reflects the views or values of Lotus Communications, our stations, our employees or our valued partners,\u201d the statement continued. \u201cWe do not and will never condone this kind of rhetoric. The individual was terminated immediately and is no longer an employee of our company. We extend our sincere apologies for his horrible and offensive words.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t<\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\t\tHollywood stars are speaking out to mourn the death of controversial conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. News broke on Wednesday, September 10, that Kirk was shot and killed during a\u00a0 speaking engagement in Utah. He was 31. \u201cThe Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,\u201d President Donald Trump wrote via his Truth Social platform. \u201cNo [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Fox Sports Las Vegas publicly apologized for \u201ca team member [sharing] offensive comments on personal social media.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhile we respect personal beliefs, we do not tolerate hate or discrimination. The individual is on leave. These views do not reflect Lotus Stations or our partners. We apologize sincerely,\u201d a message via X<\/a> read. \u201cThe employee has been terminated, and once again we do not tolerate hate or discrimination. These views do not reflect Lotus Stations or our partners.\u201d<\/p>\n The PHNX Sports<\/em> writer was dropped by the news outlet for a tweet that took issue with some reactions to Kirk\u2019s death.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Political differences\u2019 are not the same thing as spewing hateful rhetoric on a daily basis, and refusing to mourn a life devoted to that cause is not the same thing as celebrating gun violence. Just so we\u2019re 100% clear on that,\u201d he wrote via X<\/a>.<\/p>\n PHNX Sports<\/em> announced on September 11 that Bourguet, a beat reporter for the NBA\u2019s Phoenix Suns, had been fired over the tweet.<\/p>\n \u201cThe opinions expressed by our employees do not represent the views of PHNX or ALLCITY Network,\u201d a statement read<\/a>. \u201cWe take matters involving violence very seriously and are committed to ensuring that ALLCITY remains a safe place for our employees and community alike. We have addressed this matter with the individual and made the decision to part ways.\u201d<\/p>\n USA Today<\/em><\/a> reported on September 11 that Sosh-Lightsy, Middle Tennessee State University\u2019s associate dean, posted that she had \u201czero sympathy\u201d over Kirk\u2019s death.<\/p>\n You have successfully subscribed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n After being made aware of the comments, Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn<\/strong> publicly campaigned for Sosh-Lightsy to be fired by the university. She complained via X<\/a>: \u201cThis person should be ashamed of her post. She should be removed from her position at @MTSU.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>
\n Charlie Kirk in October 2024.<\/span> Olivier Touron \/ AFP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nCharlie Rock<\/h2>\n
Bobby Machado<\/h2>\n
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\n Related: <\/span>Josh Duhamel, Jessie James Decker and More Mourn Charlie Kirk’s Death at 31\u00a0<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\nGerald Bourguet<\/h2>\n
Laura Sosh-Lightsy<\/h2>\n
Thank You!<\/h3>\n
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