MSNBC Has Fired Matthew Dowd for Comments About Charlie Kirk, but What Did He Say?

The news that Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while at a debate event in Utah on Sept. 10 has sent shockwaves rippling across the political world. One of the most immediate consequences of Kirk's death has been the firing of MSNBC News correspondent Matthew Dowd, who discussed the shooting of Kirk before it had been confirmed that he was dead.

Dowd's comments caused a pretty immediate uproar, and he was fired from MSNBC just a day later, according to reporting from Deadline. Here's what we know about what he actually said.

Dowd was interviewed by MSNBC News correspondent Katy Tur shortly after the news broke that Kirk was shot, and initially began theorizing that he might have been hit inadvertently by someone who was firing a gun in celebration.

Dowd also added that Kirk was "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," Dowd added, per USA Today. "And I think that is the environment we are in."

"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 are in."

Dowd's comments led to an almost immediate apology from MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler.

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

Dowd himself also apologized after the interview, saying that his "thoughts and prayers" were with Charlie Kirk and his family.

"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 wrote. "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," he added.

Although both Dowd and MSNBC issued apologies, it seems that the news organization decided that Dowd's comments were a fireable offense, so he was fired shortly afterward.

As Dowd made clear almost immediately after his comments, he was not intending to suggest that Kirk deserved to be shot, or that his actions had precipitated his own death.

Cable news is a live format, though, and it's easy to say things in the heat of the moment that might not age well. Kirk was known to have defended the Second Amendment and did advocate for violence, at least rhetorically, in certain circumstances. No one should be killed for their beliefs, but that might have been what Dowd was referring to in his initial remarks.