Comcast’s top executives criticized MSNBC’s coverage of the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and described an analyst’s on-air remarks as “unacceptable and insensitive,” according to a memo circulated to staff Friday.
The memo, signed by Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, Comcast President Mike Cavanagh and Mark Lazarus, chief executive of Versant — the recently formed spinoff that includes MSNBC — said the company had ended its association with contributor Matthew Dowd after comments he made during live coverage of the shooting. The executives said the remarks were at odds with the company’s obligation to foster civil dialogue and urged employees to maintain respectful exchanges of ideas even when viewpoints differ.
The firing followed Dowd’s comments on MSNBC after anchor Katy Tur asked about “the environment in which a shooting like this happens.” Dowd said Kirk had been “one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures” and accused him of pushing “hate speech.” He added, “I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions,” and said, “You can’t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and not expect awful actions to take place.”
MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler issued an on-air apology Thursday and announced Dowd’s termination, calling his remarks “inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable.” The Comcast memo reiterated that the company must do better and said “something essential has fractured in our public discourse,” adding that Comcast and its news outlets have a responsibility to help mend it.
Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed Wednesday at an event at Utah Valley College, prompting a manhunt for a suspect and intense national media coverage. Authorities later announced that a suspect in the killing had been taken into custody.
The exchange and subsequent firing drew comment from national political figures. President Donald Trump criticized what he described as anti-conservative bias in major broadcast outlets during an appearance on Fox & Friends, calling them "radical left networks" and saying they were “terrible and unfair,” while noting the networks’ coverage of the shooting. The president also announced on the program that a suspect had been captured.
Media companies have faced sustained criticism from political leaders over perceived partisan coverage, and Comcast’s top executives signaled in the memo that the company is urging its newsrooms to balance robust debate with respect. The memo asked staffers to listen to differing points of view and emphasized that the company must live up to a responsibility to help restore civil discourse amid heightened national tensions.
The company and network did not provide further comment beyond the circulated memo and the previously released apology and personnel action announced by MSNBC leadership.