Newsday issued an apology Sunday after publishing a syndicated political cartoon that depicted the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, drawing immediate condemnation from local Republican officials, calls for boycotts and the removal of the image from the paper's platforms.
The cartoon, drawn by Pulitzer Prize finalist Chip Bok and published in the paper's Saturday edition, showed an empty chair with a blood stain beneath a tent labeled "Charlie Kirk" and the phrase "Prove Me Wrong," with an arrow pointing to the seat labeled "Turning Point USA," the conservative group Kirk co-founded. Newsday said the image was insensitive and offensive and removed it from its digital platforms.
Suffolk County Republican Party Chairman Jesse Garcia described the cartoon as a crossing of a line and called for Newsday to remove the cartoon from all platforms, terminate Bok's contract and apologize to Kirk's family and readers. "By publishing a vile cartoon about the political assassination of Charlie Kirk, the paper has mocked tragedy, stoked division, and poured gasoline on the flames of political violence," Garcia said in a statement. "This isn't journalism. It's a reckless, partisan attack that blames the victim, silences free speech, and shames everything this country should stand for."
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman also criticized the cartoon and urged readers to "Cancel Newsday," calling the portrayal "over the top despicable." Several lawmakers and Republican officials demanded that the paper remove the image and sever ties with the cartoonist.
In a statement posted Sunday, Newsday said the syndicated editorial cartoon "was insensitive and offensive." "We deeply regret this mistake and sincerely apologize to the family of Charlie Kirk and to all. We made an error in judgment. The cartoon has been removed from our digital platforms," the paper said, adding that the imagery "was inappropriate and should never have been published in Newsday." Newsday also said Bok used the name of Kirk's organization and the theme of his Utah event to "suggest that Kirk's assassination might be a turning point for healing our nation's divide."
A brief earlier notice on the paper's platforms read: "Newsday apologizes for cartoon about Charlie Kirk assassination." After the longer apology, Garcia said he accepted the acknowledgement and removal, calling it a reminder that "words and images matter." Other readers and some officials said the apology was insufficient or questioned whether the cartoonist would face consequences.
It was not immediately clear whether Bok, who has produced cartoons for outlets including the Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Time and Newsweek, was terminated or works with Newsday on a freelance basis. Newsday did not respond to a request for additional comment.
The cartoon appeared amid renewed attention on the Sept. 10 shooting that wounded Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University. Video from the event showed Kirk flinch and grab at his neck after a single gunshot rang out in the crowd. Authorities later identified an alleged gunman, a 22-year-old Utah student named Tyler Robinson, who prosecutors said inscribed the words "Hey fascist! Catch!" on a bullet.
Kirk, 31, has been a prominent conservative commentator and founder of Turning Point USA. The shooting prompted national attention and prompted questions about security at political events and the rhetoric surrounding public figures. Newsday's publishing of the cartoon sparked debate among readers and officials about the boundaries of editorial commentary and the responsibilities of local news outlets in the aftermath of political violence.
Some readers expressed dismay that a long-running local paper would publish the image; others said the removal and apology were appropriate steps. The incident highlights ongoing tensions in U.S. political discourse over images and commentary tied to acts of violence and the consequences for news organizations that run content many view as crossing professional norms.
Newsday's apology came roughly a day after the cartoon ran in the Saturday edition and follows continued scrutiny of newsroom decisions across the industry. The paper said the cartoon has been taken down and that it regrets the error in judgment.