On Thursday’s “The Don Lemon Show,” former CNN host Don Lemon listened intently.
Meanwhile, Kirk addressed a gathering of students at Utah Valley University (UVU) regarding mass shootings. During this discussion, he posed a question to the audience about whether they considered “gang violence” to be a form of mass shooting. Lemon pointed out that Kirk’s critical remarks were not quite fair; he described Kirk not just as a politician but rather a dubious figure.
Hughley expressed his frustration about the tragic loss of a 31-year-old life, which he felt was unnecessary. “I am angered that we even have to deal with this,” he said. “Charlie Kirk was not a good person. In his final moments, he made some alarming statements, blaming gun violence on gangs often associated with Black people. The circumstances of his death mirrored the misrepresentation of those communities in his comments.”
He continued, “I hope he was sincere in what he preached, believing that the loss of life was a fair trade for upholding the Second Amendment…”
Matthew Dowd, an MSNBC political analyst, similarly remarked that Kirk’s inflammatory language could have contributed to the violent incident.
Dowd characterized Kirk as one of the most polarizing young figures who frequently propagated hate-speech targeting specific groups. Following his controversial statements, MSNBC released a statement, labeling them “inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable,” ultimately leading to Dowd’s dismissal. He offered an apology shortly thereafter.
Interestingly, some individuals reacted with approval towards Kirk’s fate, despite his leaving behind a young family.
Stephen A. Smith from SiriusXM voiced disapproval on Thursday, emphasizing that regardless of Kirk’s political stance, the fact remains he was a father and husband. “I don’t care about his ideologies! A man was shot in front of his kids under five. His wife is now a widow,” he stated, opposing those who were celebrating Kirk’s demise. “It’s embarrassing to see such reactions!”
