Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy branded now-former MSNBC analyst Matthew Dowd as a “lefty lunatic” over his “insensitive and unacceptable” comments about Charlie Kirk after Wednesday’s shooting.
Kirk, a conservative influencer and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot during a town hall at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.
During an appearance on MSNBC, Dowd was asked to weigh in on the tragedy.
The left-leaning political commentator outlandishly suggested that the 31-year-old Turning Point USA founder could have been shot by one of his own supporters, “shooting their gun off in celebration.”
“Hey @MSNBC I’m gonna go ahead and rule out that it was one of Charlie Kirk’s supporters that accidentally shot him with a celebratory gunshot,” the Barstool Sports founder posted on X during the initial wave of coverage on Kirk’s assassination.
As the news broke and graphic videos of Kirk being shot circulated online, Portnoy said, “anybody who is happy about this is a disgusting human.”
However, Dowd, 64, doubled down on his controversial take.
“I always go back to hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions,” Dowd said.
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“I think that’s the environment we’re in that people just… You can’t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and then not expect awful actions to take place. That’s the unfortunate environment we’re in.”
Anchor Katy Tur — who earlier in the broadcast had described Kirk as a “polarizing” figure before his death was confirmed — interrupted Dowd to inform him that Turning Point USA had confirmed Kirk had been shot.
In a separate post, Portnoy shared a video of the political pundit’s tone-deaf comment, finding what he said abhorrent and slamming him for being a “lefty lunatic.”
“Truly an unhinged rant from a lefty lunatic,” the 48-year-old media mogul wrote. “Imagine saying somebody basically deserves to get murdered for their political beliefs just cause you don’t agree with him.”
Portnoy also slammed anyone who didn’t see the assassination “one of the darkest days in American history,” as being “part of the problem.”
MSNBC was forced to apologize and network president Rebecca Kutler called Dowd’s comments “inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable.”
Here’s the latest on the Charlie Kirk shooting in Utah
“During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable,” Kutler said. “We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise.”
Dowd also apologized for his words following the massive backlash.
“My thoughts & prayers are w/ the family and friends of Charlie Kirk. On an earlier appearance on MSNBC I was asked a question on the environment we are in. I apologize for my tone and words. Let me be clear, I in no way intended for my comments to blame Kirk for this horrendous attack. Let us all come together and condemn violence of any kind,” Dowd said.
Dowd was fired by MSNBC late Wednesday night, a source at the network confirmed to Variety.
Kirk was fatally shot about 20 minutes into his “American Comeback Tour” event while answering a question about mass shootings by transgender people in the US.
The suspect officials said was wearing jeans, a black shirt, and a black vest, and armed with a long rifle, was perched atop a building east of the school’s library when he shot Kirk.
The FBI said it has questioned and released two persons of interest. The assassin remains at large.
Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was known for his “Prove Me Wrong” campus debates, where anyone could step up and challenge his beliefs.
He leaves behind his wife, former Miss Arizona Erika Frantzve, and two young children.
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