Newsday, a daily newspaper based in Long Island, New York, issued an apology for publishing an “insensitive and offensive” cartoon that referenced the assassination of Charlie Kirk. This followed a call for a boycott after the incident. Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA, was tragically killed during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The editorial cartoon featured an empty chair with blood splatters, under a tent labeled “Charlie Kirk” and “Proof Me Wrong,” alongside an arrow pointing to the chair.
The cartoon, created by Chip Bock, was seen as a disturbing response to Kirk’s assassination, especially during a time when political tensions ran high throughout the nation. After facing criticism from local conservatives, Newsday admitted it made a “false judgment.”
In a statement, Newsday expressed regret for the hurt caused, apologizing to Kirk’s family and the public. They acknowledged that using Kirk’s organization and themes from his event to imply that his assassination might lead to a national healing was inappropriate and shouldn’t have been published.
The backlash was swift, especially on social media. Jesse Garcia, the Suffolk County Republican Chairman, argued the cartoon “crossed the line” and labeled it despicable. He contended that by publishing such a cartoon, the paper trivialized tragedy and contributed to the already volatile climate of political violence. “This is not journalism,” he asserted, voicing concern over how such portrayals vilify victims and stifle free expression.
Garcia further insisted that there was no justification for the cartoon and called for its immediate removal from all platforms, emphasizing that it perpetuated hatred and political violence. Others echoed similar sentiments, with Trump’s campaign representative in New Jersey urging locals to cancel their subscriptions, and Rep. Elise Stefanik labeling the cartoon “sick.” Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman also condemned the cartoon as “merciless,” prompting him to call for subscriptions to be canceled.
As of now, it remains unclear if Newsday plans to implement any changes regarding their editorial process moving forward.
