ABC News correspondent Matt Gutman faced swift public criticism after describing text messages attributed to the suspect charged in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk as “very touching.” The remarks came after a Utah County prosecutor read excerpts of alleged texts at a press conference unveiling murder charges against 22-year-old Tyler Robinson.
At the news conference, Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray announced Robinson was charged with several counts, including aggravated murder, and said investigators had recovered text messages that prosecutors say are linked to the weapon and the events leading to Kirk’s death. Gutman, reporting on ABC News’ livestream, highlighted the messages and described them as forming “a very intimate portrait” of a relationship between Robinson and his roommate, who prosecutors and media reports identified as Lance Twiggs.
Gutman said the messages showed Robinson repeatedly calling his roommate "my love" and at times expressing a desire to protect the partner, while other portions of the alleged messages appeared self-incriminating. “There was this heartbreaking duality that we’re seeing very tragically playing out,” Gutman said on the network’s livestream, calling the messages “fulsome, so robust, so apparently allegedly self-incriminating and yet, on the other hand, so touching.”
The comments drew immediate rebuke from conservative politicians and commentators on social media. Republican Sen. Jim Banks of Indiana posted, “Wait, what???” New York Post columnist Karol Markowicz wrote “Wtaf.” Others including Just the News correspondent Jerry Dunleavy and conservative writers on platforms such as RedState and Versus Media criticized what they characterized as an inappropriate focus on the suspect’s personal relationship.
Robinson is accused of killing Kirk at a public event; prosecutors said some details of the alleged attack occurred in front of children, which the indictment lists as an aggravating circumstance. In court filings and at the press conference, prosecutors cited text messages they say were sent by Robinson to Twiggs. One passage quoted in the indictment reads, “I am still ok my love, but am stuck in orem for a little while longer yet. Shouldn’t be long until I can come home, but I gotta grab my rifle still. To be honest I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age. I am sorry to involve you.” In another alleged exchange, Twiggs asked, “you weren’t the one who did it right????” and the defendant allegedly replied, “I am, I’m sorry.”
News outlets have reported that Twiggs is a biological male who identifies as a woman and that the two lived together. Fox News Digital previously reported that the roommate and Robinson had a romantic relationship. The presence of a transgender partner in the reporting prompted additional commentary from some conservative commentators who said the relationship influenced media coverage.
ABC News did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital, according to a report that noted Gutman had reiterated his description of the messages on the network’s platform, calling the material “heartbreaking on so many levels” and saying it offered a “portrait of a very human person.”
Reaction on social media varied, with some users condemning Gutman’s phrasing as insensitive given the severity of the charges, while others urged restraint until courts resolve the case. Legal analysts have emphasized that statements from reporters do not affect the legal presumption of innocence or the course of the prosecution, which will unfold through the Utah court system.
Robinson appeared in court for arraignment on Sept. 16, 2025, where prosecutors outlined the charges and indicated investigators were relying on digital evidence included in the indictment. The case has prompted a stream of developments and commentary across political and mainstream media, including debates over how personal relationships and identity should be covered when linked to violent crimes.
The investigation into Kirk’s killing remains active. Prosecutors have said they will pursue the charges brought in the indictment; defense attorneys have not publicly addressed all aspects of the evidence. As the legal process continues, media organizations and commentators are likely to face further scrutiny over how they report personal details from investigators’ filings and what context they provide to audiences.