ABC News chief national correspondent Matt Gutman apologized Wednesday after conservatives criticized his framing of the text exchanges between Tyler Robinson and his roommate, the suspect in the Charlie Kirk case, during coverage of a Utah County press conference. Gutman described the messages as "very touching" and said they offered "an intimate portrait" of a relationship that intersected with a high-profile crime.
Following the press conference, conservatives on social media criticized Gutman's tone, citing messages from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ("Legacy media in all its glory"), Indiana Sen. Jim Banks ("Wait, what???"), Fox News host Will Cain ("Fundamentally, irredeemably, broken") and Meghan McCain ("Is everyone @ABC out of their minds?!"). The remarks came as prosecutors laid out their case and read the texts as evidence, including lines in which the roommate—who was transitioning—was referred to as "my love" and "I wanna protect you, my love." Critics argued that the broadcast focus on romance minimized the violence and the victims.
On Wednesday, Gutman addressed the backlash in a post on X, saying he intended to underscore the jarring contrast between the crime and the personal texts read aloud by the Utah County Attorney at the press conference. He wrote: "Yesterday I tried to underscore the jarring contrast between this cold-blooded assassination of Charlie Kirk — a man who dedicated his life to public dialogue — and the personal, disturbing texts read aloud by the Utah County Attorney at the press conference," and added: "I deeply regret that my words did not make that clear." He concluded: "But there be zero doubt here: I unequivocally condemn this horrific crime and the pain it caused Charlie Kirk's family, those who were forced to witness it at UVU, and the millions of people he inspired."
Outlets and individuals have been quick to apologize and take further action for their genuine and perceived missteps amid the tension generated by Kirk's assassination. Gutman, ABC’s chief national correspondent, said the remarks did not reflect the broader condemnation of the crime and the victims.
The episode comes amid broader scrutiny of how crime coverage is framed in the media. Gutman has faced controversy before; he was suspended by ABC in 2020 for erroneous reporting on the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and others.
The incident underscores the delicate balance in Culture & Entertainment coverage of high-profile crimes, where commentary can ignite political backlash while authorities emphasize the need for accurate, respectful reporting. The story remains evolving as prosecutors continue to present evidence and ABC reviews its coverage standards.
