TMZ issued an on-camera apology after employees were heard laughing and applauding during a livestream just seconds before the outlet’s hosts announced the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
In a video apology posted by TMZ, co-hosts Harvey Levin and Charles Latibeaudiere said staffers in a back room were watching a car chase and applauding that broadcast, not Kirk’s death. "We acknowledge that it was horrible timing," Latibeaudiere said, while Levin added that the individuals would not work at the company if they found Kirk’s death funny. TMZ also published a written statement saying watching a car chase “at that moment was tone deaf.”
The apology did little to stem criticism on social media, where users accused the entertainment outlet of celebrating a homicide. Conservative figures including Laura Loomer called the behavior "disgusting," and some commenters said they did not accept TMZ’s explanation. Critics pointed to other posts and clips showing some users reacting to Kirk’s death with celebration, while leading political figures and late-night hosts denounced any suggestion that the killing was acceptable.
Kirk, a 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was shot in the neck during an outdoor speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem on Wednesday. He was answering a question about gun violence when a single bullet struck him; video from the scene shows a person lying on a nearby roof and fleeing after shots were fired. Law enforcement officials said the fatal shot was fired from the top of the Losee Center, about 200 feet from where Kirk was speaking.
President Donald Trump confirmed Kirk’s death hours after the shooting. FBI Director Kash Patel said investigators believe the attack was a "political assassination" and that the suspected shooter acted alone; Patel also said no one was in custody on Wednesday night. George Zinn, 71, who was arrested at the scene, was booked on an obstruction charge and investigators later ruled he was not the shooter. Another individual detained by authorities was released after questioning, Patel said. University police said roughly six officers were assigned to the campus event, which drew about 3,000 people.
Kirk, who helped found the conservative nonprofit Turning Point USA to promote conservatism on college campuses, is survived by his wife, Erika Frantzve, and their two young children.
The shooting prompted a range of responses from the entertainment and political communities. On Wednesday night, Stephen Colbert opened The Late Show with an unscripted, somber address that replaced the program’s usual introduction. Colbert offered condolences to Kirk’s family and warned against normalizing politically motivated violence.
"I am old enough to personally remember the political violence of the 1960s, and I hope it is obvious to everyone in America that political violence does not solve any of our political differences," Colbert said. "Political violence only leads to more political violence." He added that he hoped the shooting was an isolated act committed by a "madman," then moved on to the previously recorded portion of the program.
The incident also reignited debate over media conduct and social media responses to political violence. While some users on the left were documented posting celebratory reactions to Kirk’s death, others across the political spectrum condemned any suggestion of approval for the killing. California Governor Gavin Newsom called the attack "disgusting, vile, and reprehensible," saying the United States must reject political violence in every form.
TMZ said it was livestreaming coverage of the unfolding tragedy throughout the day and that the laughter heard on the feed was unrelated to its report on Kirk. The outlet acknowledged the timing was "horrible" and apologized for the distress caused. The Daily Mail has reported on the apology and the broader outcry; TMZ did not provide additional comment beyond its video and written statements.
Federal and local investigators said the probe was ongoing. Officials urged anyone with information or footage from the event to come forward as part of efforts to identify and apprehend the person responsible for the shooting.
