Jamie Lee Curtis grew emotional on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast this week as she discussed the killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, describing him as a "man of faith" and likening his name to "Christ" while urging sensitivity around footage of the shooting.
Curtis, an Oscar-winning actress known for her outspoken liberal views, said she disagreed with many of Kirk’s positions but nevertheless mourned the father and husband and hoped he felt "connected to his faith" at the time of his death. On the podcast she initially referred to Kirk as "Charlie Crist," then corrected herself as she explained the mental association she felt between his name and religious imagery.
The remarks came as authorities continue to investigate the broadly publicized shooting of Kirk at Utah Valley University last week. Police arrested 22-year-old Utah resident Tyler Robinson in connection with the killing; the suspect has refused to cooperate with investigators, according to reporting from law enforcement officials.
FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News this week that evidence, including a text message exchange, indicates Robinson acknowledged he had the opportunity to "take out Charlie Kirk" and intended to do so. Patel said the FBI and local law enforcement have conducted interviews and that DNA recovered from a towel wrapped around the firearm used in the shooting matched the suspect. Patel added that Robinson told investigators some "hatred cannot be negotiated with," and that "information will come out" as the probe continues.
Robinson is scheduled to appear in court where he is expected to face charges related to Kirk’s death. Local authorities and federal investigators are coordinating the examination of witness statements, forensic evidence and digital records in the case.
On the Maron program, Curtis also spoke about the broader cultural impact of witnessing violence through social media and television. She said she found the public circulation of footage showing the shooting troubling and asked what repeated exposure to such images does to the public psyche.
"I don’t ever want to see this footage of this man being shot," she said, according to the podcast transcript. "Even though I find what his ideas were abhorrent to me, I still believe he’s a father and a husband and a man of faith, and I hope whatever 'connection to God' means, that he felt it." Curtis, who has a transgender daughter, noted her longstanding political opposition to many right-wing positions and has previously criticized former President Donald Trump, at one point describing his approach as "draconian" during the 2024 campaign.
Curtis also connected the killing to a personal historical marker: she said she was born exactly five years to the day after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated and that association makes televised assassinations especially resonant for her. She asked whether saturation with violent imagery contributes to a decline in societal empathy.
Kirk, a vocal supporter of former President Trump and founder of the conservative group Turning Point USA, was attacked in broad daylight on the university campus, an event that prompted swift national attention and debate over security at public appearances and the circulation of violent video online. Reaction to his death has crossed political lines, with public figures from across the spectrum commenting on the killing and the suspect’s arrest.
Investigators have said they will not release all evidence as the case proceeds and have urged patience while forensic analysis and witness interviews continue. Court filings and scheduled hearings are expected to provide more detail about the alleged motive and the timeline of events as the legal process moves forward.
Curtis’s comments on the podcast add to a growing catalog of public reactions to the shooting, reflecting both the polarization of American politics and questions about how public figures are mourned or remembered after high-profile violence. Authorities continue to press the investigation and prosecutors will determine formal charges and next steps as evidence is presented in court.