Former MSNBC analyst Matthew Dowd has claimed his on-air comments implying Charlie Kirk’s ‘hateful words’ got him killed were ‘misconstrued’ and that the network caved to a conservative ‘mob’ in firing him.
While reporting on the shooting that killed Kirk on a college campus in Utah Wednesday, Dowd called Kirk ‘divisive’ and accused him of peddling ‘hate speech’ before suggesting that the right-wing activist brought the shooting on himself.
‘And I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions,’ he said.
Dowd had also speculated whether the gun shot had been fired by fan celebrating at the event.
He later apologized for the comments before MSNBC announced later in the day that he had been let go.
On Friday, the 64-year-old argued in a lengthy post on Substack that the network caved to the ‘Right Wing media mob’ in deciding to axe him.
‘Even though most at MSNBC knew my words were being misconstrued, the timing of my words forgotten (remember I said this before anyone knew Kirk was a target), and that I apologized for any miscommunication on my part, I was terminated by the end of the day,’ he wrote.
In a companywide memo on Friday, top brass at MSNBC called Dowd’s comments ‘unacceptable and insensitive.’
In a lengthy post on Friday, former MSNBC political analyst Matthew Dowd argued that the network caved to the ‘Right Wing media mob’ after his on-air comments about Charlie Kirk
Kirk was assassinated on Wednesday as he addressed students at Utah Valley College in Orem
‘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,’ read the note, signed by Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, Comcast President Mike Cavanagh, Versant CEO Mark Lazarus.
‘We need to do better,’ it added.
On Thursday, a source familiar with the situation told the Daily Mail that MSNBC staff ‘immediately knew Dowd’s remarks were inappropriate’ after he uttered them on air.
During his live analysis while the news was breaking, Dowd spent time characterizing Kirk’s views with pointed jabs.
‘I think that’s the environment that we’re in that people just… you can’t stop with these awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and not expect awful actions to take place,’ he said on air. ‘That’s the unfortunate environment we’re in.’
Defending his comments on Friday, Dowd said that ‘the only thing known at the time was shots were fired and there was no reporting yet that Kirk was the target or had been shot at.’
‘I said that Kirk has been a very divisive and polarizing figure. I then added that we are in a toxic time in America, unlike every other democracy in the world, where we have a combination of divisiveness and near unlimited access to guns,’ he continued.
‘The effort by Holocaust survivors to remind folks of Germany in the 1930s #ItStartedWithWords came to my mind and I said my now legendary line “hateful thoughts lead to hateful words which ultimately lead to hateful actions”.
‘I thought to myself how could anyone disagree with this. I guess I was naive.’
After Dowd’s remarks, MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler apologized without announcing any repercussions for the analyst
‘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,’ read a memo signed by Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, Comcast President Mike Cavanagh, Versant CEO Mark Lazarus
After the remarks, MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler apologized without announcing any repercussions for Dowd.
Several hours later, as the backlash against Dowd continued to build, the news emerged that he had been fired.
MSNBC declined to comment on why the network issued an apology only to announce Dowd’s axing shortly after.
On Friday, Cumberland University revealed it would be uninviting Dowd from a prescheduled speaking appearance in October.
Dr. Paul C. Stumb, president of the Tennessee school, said in a statement: ‘This Lecture Series was created to foster civil discourse and engagement, and in the aftermath of Mr. Dowd’s recent comments, we have decided to cancel the lecture.’
He added: ‘We remain grateful to the families that support this endowed lecture series, and we plan to reschedule in the Spring 2026 semester with a new featured speaker.’
