On Wednesday, ABC News correspondent Matt Gutman issued a surprising apology regarding his description of text messages connected to Tyler Robinson, the murderer of Charlie Kirk, and his transgender partner.
Gutman, who serves as the network’s chief national correspondent, expressed regret for labeling the messages as “deeply” and “very touching.” He aimed, he said, to contrast the brutal killing of Kirk, a figure committed to public discussion, with the unsettling texts read out loud by a Utah County lawyer at a press conference.
He stated, “I deeply regret that my words didn’t convey the right message.” He went on to firmly denounce the horrific crime and the pain inflicted on Kirk’s family and the audience present at UVU, as well as the millions inspired by him.
The apology was met with criticism from various conservative commentators. Some suggested that Gutman seemed to make a false comparison, asserting that he was juxtaposing Kirk’s murder with the “very touching” texts rather than what he intended.
One user remarked, “I don’t see any real apology here. It feels more like, ‘I’m sorry if you were too ignorant to get my point.’” There were calls for Gutman to be fired for his comments.
ABC News has not responded to inquiries about the situation.
Gutman, 47, an Emmy-winning journalist, delivered coverage of the press conference where he discussed Robinson’s confessional text in what some interpreted as a sympathetic light.
He described the messages as offering an intimate glimpse into the relationship between the suspect and his roommate, recounting how Robinson referred to him as “my love” and expressed a desire to protect him.
This duality, he noted, was troubling—not only were lives endangered, including Kirk’s, but a child was also present during the incident, compounding the gravity of the situation. He remarked that it was an unusual press conference, where he had to balance readings of text that were both alarming and oddly poignant.
In his own words, “I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a scenario at a press conference where I read something so complex, profoundly impactful, yet undeniably troubling.”
