Fox News host Brian Kilmeade issued an apology Sunday after saying during a live Fox & Friends segment that homeless and mentally ill people should be killed — comments that drew swift condemnation from elected officials and commentators.
Kilmeade made the remark while discussing the Aug. 22 stabbing death of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina. During the Wednesday segment, co-host Lawrence Jones suggested locking up people who do not accept programs for mental illness and homelessness; Kilmeade responded, "Or involuntary lethal or something, just kill them," a line that circulated widely after a clip of the broadcast went viral.
On Sunday, Kilmeade addressed the remarks on Fox & Friends, calling them "extremely callous" and saying, "We were discussing the murder of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina and how to stop these kinds of attacks by homeless, mentally ill assailants, including institutionalizing or jailing such people so they cannot attack again. Now during that discussion, I wrongly said they should get lethal injections. I apologize for that extremely callous remark." He added that he recognizes "not all mentally ill, homeless people act as the perpetrator did in North Carolina and that so many homeless people deserve our empathy and compassion."
During the original segment, co-host Ainsley Earhardt briefly responded, "Yeah, Brian, why did it have to get to this point?" while appearing not to directly contest Kilmeade's explosive line. Kilmeade also criticized local leaders and prosecutors during the broadcast, urging North Carolina voters to "wake up," assailing Democratic district attorneys including Alvin Bragg, and praising past efforts to remove San Francisco’s former district attorney Chesa Boudin. He called on viewers to support Republican Michael Whatley in the 2026 Senate race.
The murder of Zarutska, who was stabbed on a Charlotte train, has attracted national attention and prompted debate about crime, homelessness and mental health policy. A suspect, identified by authorities as Decarlos Brown, has been accused in the killing.
Political figures and commentators responded sharply to Kilmeade’s comments. California Gov. Gavin Newsom cited Proverbs 21:13 in a social media post, writing, "Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered." Virginia Rep. Don Beyer said, "America’s homeless population includes over a million children and tens of thousands of veterans, many of whom served in Iraq or Afghanistan. Nobody deserves to be murdered by the government for mental illness or poverty. These Fox hosts are calling for mass murder—it’s sick." Conservative commentator Sarah Longwell posted, "My god. What is happening?" and other users noted veterans and others among the homeless population when criticizing the remark.
The exchange has drawn particular attention because it aired on one of Fox News’s most-watched morning programs and because critics said it crossed a line for on-air commentary about vulnerable populations. The clip circulated widely on social media following the original broadcast.
Fox News did not immediately issue a statement on the record to media outlets following the viral coverage. The Daily Mail reported it had approached the network for comment.
Kilmeade’s apology reiterated his assertion that the original discussion centered on preventing attacks by people with untreated mental illness and addressing homelessness, and acknowledged that his wording was wrong. The network has not announced any internal actions in response to the segment.