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After shooting, MSNBC analyst blames Charlie Kirk’s ‘hateful words’ for causing ‘hateful actions’

TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk was killed at an on-campus event on Wednesday, and as the story developed, MSNBC analyst Matthew Dowd argued that one cannot share ‘hateful’ rhetoric and ‘not expect awful actions to take place.’

Comcast’s top executives scolded employees on Friday as MSNBC’s coverage of the assassination of Charlie Kirk was deemed "at odds with fostering civil dialogue and being willing to listen to the points of view of those who have differing opinions." 

MSNBC fired political analyst Matthew Dowd on Wednesday for suggesting "hateful" rhetoric from Kirk led to his assassination. Dowd’s remarks stunned many Americans, and Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, President Mike Cavanagh and prospective Versant CEO Mark Lazarus sent a memo on Friday to all Comcast NBCUniversal employees urging staffers to "do better" and properly engage in civil discourse. 

"The tragic loss of Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old father, husband, and advocate for open debate, whose faith was important to him, reminds us of the fragility of life and the urgent need for unity in our nation. Our hearts are heavy, as his passing leaves a grieving family and a country grappling with division. There is no place for violence or hate in our society," the Comcast executives wrote. 

MSNBC FIRES ANALYST MATTHEW DOWD FOR 'UNACCEPTABLE' COMMENTS ABOUT CHARLIE KIRK

MSNBC fired political analyst Matthew Dowd on Wednesday for suggesting "hateful" rhetoric from Charlie Kirk led to his own assassination.  (Lorenzo Bevilaqua/ABC via Getty Images)

"You may have seen that MSNBC recently ended its association with a contributor who made an unacceptable and insensitive comment about this horrific event," the statement continued. "That coverage was at odds with fostering civil dialogue and being willing to listen to the points of view of those who have differing opinions. We should be able to disagree, robustly and passionately, but, ultimately, with respect. We need to do better."

After Kirk was shot Wednesday afternoon, Dowd suggested it was caused by a chain reaction from his "hateful words" against various groups. Kirk, a leading conservative activist and top ally of President Donald Trump, later died at the age of 31.

Before the news that Kirk had died, Dowd told MSNBC host Katy Tur, "We don’t know any of the full details of this yet. We don’t know if this was a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration."

CHARLIE KIRK ROSE TO BECOME CONSERVATIVE POWERHOUSE, TRANSFORMATIVE CAMPUS FIGURE

Charlie Kirk speaks at Utah Valley University Sept. 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah, prior to the assassination. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)

Dowd said 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. And I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.

"I think that’s the environment we’re in, that the people just — you can’t 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's the unfortunate environment we're in."

Dowd's comments were widely condemned after the shooting, and he was terminated within hours. 

"Charlie Kirk believed that ‘when people stop talking, really bad stuff starts.’ Regardless of whether you agreed with his political views, his words and actions underscore the urgency to maintain a respectful exchange of ideas — a principle we must champion," the Comcast executives wrote.

"We believe in the power of communication to bring us together. Today, that belief feels more vital than ever. Something essential has fractured in our public discourse, and as a company that values the power of information, we have a responsibility to help mend it.

"As employees, we ask you to embody our values in your work and communities," the statement continued. "We should engage with respect, listen, and treat people with kindness."

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