MSNBC has shown political analyst Matthew Dowd the door after his divisive comments on the Charlie Kirk tragedy — and now he’s lashing out at those he feels deserve the blame.
The longtime commentator was fired in the wake of his controversial remarks following the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk in Utah. Dowd insists he’s been wronged, claiming his ouster was less about what he said and more about what he calls the influence of the “right wing media mob.”
What Dowd Said on Air
The controversy began on September 10th, when MSNBC anchor Katy Tur brought Dowd on to discuss breaking news out of Utah Valley University. At the time, details about the shooting were still coming in. Instead of simply acknowledging the gravity of the situation, Dowd speculated live on air that Kirk was “one of the most divisive younger figures … constantly pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups.”
Dowd then offered a broader take.
🚨 BREAKING: Matthew Dowd has been FIRED from MSNBC after blaming the assassination of Charlie Kirk on Charlie himself, per Variety
Good riddance, loser! pic.twitter.com/BbfFxTTzpM
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 11, 2025
“I always go back to hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions. I think that is the environment we are in … You can’t stop with these awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and not expect awful actions to take place.”
As reports were still developing, he also floated the possibility that the incident might not have been a direct attack at all, suggesting that perhaps shots were fired “in celebration” and Kirk was not specifically targeted.
Those comments immediately sparked outrage online, especially from conservatives who accused Dowd of trying to blame Kirk for his own murder.
MSNBC Cuts Ties Immediately
Within hours, MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler issued a statement calling Dowd’s comments “inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable.” The network quickly confirmed he was no longer employed.
Statement from MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler: “During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable. We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in…
— MSNBC Public Relations (@MSNBCPR) September 10, 2025
Comcast leadership followed up with a company-wide memo stressing the importance of “civil discourse.” The note, signed by Brian Roberts, Mike Cavanagh, and Mark Lazarus, warned that something “essential has fractured in our public discourse” and urged employees to “do better.”
It was a not-so-subtle rebuke of Dowd’s performance.
Dowd’s Counterattack
Now on the outside looking in, Dowd took to his Substack and other platforms to offer both clarification and defiance. He argued that when he spoke, the facts were not yet confirmed, and he never intended to say Kirk deserved harm. He acknowledged that his tone may have come across poorly, but he insists he’s been unfairly maligned.
Most notably, Dowd pinned the blame on what he labeled the “right wing media mob.”
Matthew Dowd speaking on MSNBC – X,
@RealMaryELemons
According to him, conservative outlets seized on his comments, whipped up outrage, and pressured MSNBC into terminating his contract.
“They ginned up this whole thing,” Dowd said. “MSNBC reacted to that mob.” Dowd says he remains “disheartened” but hopes to continue using his voice in other venues.
The Bigger Picture
This firing lands at the intersection of multiple hot-button issues. First, it highlights the fine line networks and commentators walk when responding to breaking tragedies. Audiences expect instant analysis, but even slightly speculative or insensitive remarks can spark firestorms.
Charlie Kirk on his YouTube channel – YouTube, Charlie Kirk
Second, it raises questions about cancel culture and pressure campaigns. Dowd’s defenders argue he was punished for offering a clumsy assessment of how rhetoric fuels violence. Critics counter that his timing was cruel and reckless, effectively blaming a victim before the family could even grieve.
Finally, it demonstrates just how polarized the media environment has become. For conservatives, this was proof MSNBC’s commentators are incapable of basic decency toward political opponents.
Conclusion
Matthew Dowd may have intended to deliver a broader point about toxic rhetoric, but in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, his words struck many as callous and even slanderous. Now he’s framing his downfall as the result of an organized campaign from the right.
Former MSNBC commentator Matthew Dowd – X, @Byron4Tradition
Whether viewers see him as a casualty of cancel culture or the architect of his own undoing will depend on which side of America’s media divide they occupy. What’s clear is that in today’s climate, one poorly-timed comment can end a career — and in Dowd’s case, it did.
How do you feel about Matthew Dowd and his comments about being fired from MSNBC? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
If Dowd had just kept his BIG MOUTH SHUT and not spread more LIES, he wouldn’t have gotten fired but these people don’t have any fear of consequences and when it bites THEM in the ass they cry foul. Wretched bastard, hope he never finds work again.
They’ve had no problem actively sabotaging other people’s lives with slander, trying to get them fired, arrested, or murdered with their dishonest framing. If it were up to me everything complicit would be abolished. Not only do I think it’s justifiable to go after people’s jobs after being on the receiving end for decades, I think it’s fine to get the police involved for those who have created lists of targets to come “next”.
Genuinely don’t care about them crying about being held to their own standards. No-one needs to feel guilty about these people trying to use your own moral standards weaponised against themselves. I don’t think people should go too far in tone policing every comment someone had ever made, but if you’re a genuinely reprehensible person then really people don’t need to support you. People had a lot of freedom to choose their own morality. These guys chose evil.
I just read something interesting on the NY Post. Apparently, some in SF are so sick of the fentanyl addled vagrants that blanket the streets that they are actually walking up to the passed out degenerates and shove a bottle of Narcan up their noses and spray. It’ll jump start a completely unconscious body to 120 beats in seconds. So now some are simply walking up to the slumped over bums and just mention “get out the Narcan” and the creep’l just hop up and take off. They puke and are sick for a spell afterwards.
Those of you in cities, share this information with your friends and family.
The dude suddenly didn’t like it when his own logic was applied to him.
Maybe he should look in the mirror for who to blame.
Are you sure he still has a reflection?
“Right Wing Media Mob” ??? Is he living on Mars or where ??? Or he is blind and deaf and not watching media at all…