ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith sharply criticized people who he said were celebrating the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and commended the New York Yankees for holding a moment of silence in Kirk’s honor.
On his podcast Thursday, Smith said he felt pain for Kirk and his family and objected to what he described as celebratory social-media posts following the shooting. "I don't care what his political beliefs were! I don't care what he felt!" Smith said. "That he's dead at the age of 31. That his wife is a widow. That his children are fatherless because his ideas and his beliefs differed from somebody else, apparently." He added, "And then I’m going online, and I’m seeing people celebrating it! Shame! Shame on you!" Smith also praised the Yankees for a Wednesday-night tribute, saying, "Props to the New York Yankees organization last night for having a moment of silence. We're not supposed to condone stuff like this. We're not supposed to say it's okay."
Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot Wednesday on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem. Authorities say he was struck by a single bullet at about 12:20 p.m. local time while surrounded by mostly college students as an event was getting underway. Investigators have not publicly identified a suspect, and a manhunt and nationwide search remain underway.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls and Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason told reporters Thursday morning that investigators have obtained "good video footage" of the person believed to have carried out the shooting and that the suspect is believed to be "of college age." Officials urged anyone with information to contact law enforcement. Smith expressed hope that the FBI and other agencies would locate and apprehend the person responsible.
The shooting and the online reaction to it prompted swift consequences for several individuals whose social-media posts were interpreted as celebratory or otherwise offensive. MSNBC said Wednesday that it had fired political analyst Matthew Dowd after comments suggesting Kirk’s own rhetoric had contributed to his fate. The Carolina Panthers dismissed Charlie Rock, a member of the team’s communications department, after social-media posts linked to him appeared to question why people were sad that Kirk had been shot and shared other controversial content.
A statement posted by the Panthers on social media said, "The views expressed by our employees are their own and do not represent those of the Carolina Panthers. We do not condone violence of any kind. We are taking this matter very seriously and have accordingly addressed it with the individual."
In addition, social-media posts from Chelsea Wolfe, identified in local reporting as a transgender Team USA BMX cyclist who was an alternate for the Tokyo Olympics team in 2021, drew attention when she posted celebratory messages about Kirk's death on an Instagram story. Wolfe later deleted the posts.
The New York Yankees held a moment of silence before their game Wednesday night against the Detroit Tigers and displayed an image of Kirk on the stadium jumbotron. Smith singled out the team’s tribute in his remarks, saying public figures and organizations should not condone violence regardless of political viewpoints.
Kirk founded Turning Point USA, a conservative youth organization, and was a frequent presence on cable news and social-media platforms. His death has intensified debate over political rhetoric, safety at public events and the role of social media in shaping public response to violent acts. Law enforcement officials have said the investigation is ongoing and that they are seeking the public's help in identifying and locating the suspect.
Smith, a high-profile sports and media figure, made his comments on a regularly produced podcast episode; his remarks drew attention in part because of the contrast between his usual sports-focused audience and the political dimensions of the discussion. The killing, the subsequent manhunt and the online fallout have prompted responses from media organizations, professional sports teams and law-enforcement officials as the search for the suspect continues.
Authorities asked anyone with information, photos or video from the Utah Valley University campus around the time of the shooting to contact local law enforcement or the FBI. Investigators have not released a name or identity for a suspect and have not publicly announced a motive. The case remains under active investigation.