The mainstream media never checks their facts. And they have to own up to it.
Now an ABC news reporter is forced to give a groveling apology live on air.
Matt Gutman’s Controversial Comments and Apology
ABC News chief national correspondent Matt Gutman sparked widespread criticism for describing text messages between Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin, Tyler Robinson, and his partner, Lance Twiggs, as “very touching” and “intimate” during a live report on a Utah County Attorney’s press conference.
The texts, sent hours after Robinson allegedly shot Kirk on September 10 at Utah Valley University, included Robinson’s confession and expressions like “my love” to Twiggs.
Gutman’s remarks, which highlighted the “duality” of Robinson’s violent act and affectionate messages, were reiterated on an ABC livestream, where he called the texts “fulsome” and “robust.” Following intense backlash, Gutman apologized on X on September 17, stating, “Yesterday I tried to underscore the jarring contrast between this cold-blooded assassination of Charlie Kirk — a man who dedicated his life to public dialogue — and the personal, disturbing texts read aloud by the Utah County Attorney at the press conference. I deeply regret that my words did not make that clear.”
He emphasized his condemnation of the crime and its impact on Kirk’s family and supporters. ABC News has not issued a formal response, and public reaction on X remains divided, with some calling for Gutman’s firing.
Heinous Nature of Gutman’s Comments
Gutman’s characterization of Robinson’s texts as “very touching” and “intimate” was deeply inappropriate given the context of Kirk’s assassination, a calculated act that ended a public figure’s life and traumatized thousands.
By emphasizing the emotional tone of Robinson’s messages to Twiggs, Gutman appeared to humanize and romanticize the actions of an alleged murderer, overshadowing the gravity of the crime.
The texts, while personal, were part of a confession to a violent act, including details about hiding the murder weapon and evading police, making Gutman’s sympathetic framing tone-deaf and disrespectful to Kirk’s family, the 3,000 witnesses, and his supporters.
His focus on the “duality” of Robinson’s character risked trivializing the assassination, especially in a polarized climate where Kirk’s death has fueled debates about free speech and political violence.
Gutman’s apology, while acknowledging the misstep, failed to fully address the harm caused by his initial remarks, as evidenced by continued public outrage on X, where users criticized his comments as excusing or glamorizing a heinous act.
Rising Political Violence in Context
The controversy over Gutman’s remarks occurs amid a surge in political violence, exemplified by Kirk’s assassination and other recent incidents, such as the September 12, 2025, attempted bombing of a FOX 13 News vehicle in Salt Lake City and the April 2025 arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s mansion.
Kirk, a polarizing conservative figure, was targeted for his outspoken views, and Robinson’s texts citing Kirk’s “hatred” as justification reflect how ideological divides can escalate into deadly acts.
Gutman’s comments, by appearing to soften the narrative around Robinson’s motives, risk inflaming tensions in an already volatile environment where media coverage shapes public perception.
The swift backlash, including calls for his firing from figures like Sen. Jim Banks and journalist Karol Markowicz, underscores the sensitivity of reporting on such cases.
As political violence grows, responsible journalism demands careful language to avoid minimizing harm or fueling further division, a standard Gutman’s initial remarks failed to meet.
