Dave Portnoy has criticized MSNBC’s political contributor, Matthew Dowd, following a series of contentious remarks made in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
The 31-year-old conservative commentator was fatally shot at 12:20 PM during an event at Utah Valley University. The shooter, who was filmed running across a rooftop shortly after firing, sparked a swift response.
Kirk, a father of two, was struck by a single bullet while addressing attendees at the public university in Orem. He collapsed immediately upon being shot and was hurried to the hospital, where he unfortunately passed away due to his injuries.
A suspect was initially detained after an extensive manhunt, but FBI Director Kash Patel later stated they were released. Haunting footage from the scene shows a shadowy figure fleeing across the roof of the Lossee Center.
Following the tragic event, MSNBC host Katy Tur described Kirk as ‘divisive’ and ‘polarizing,’ while Dowd speculated that the shot might have been fired by one of Kirk’s own supporters.
‘[We] don’t know any of the full details of this yet,’ Dowd said.
Dave Portnoy has reprimanded MSNBC’s political analyst Matthew Dowd after he voiced several controversial opinions during coverage of Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
Dowd sparked outrage while covering the fatal shooting on-air with some controversial claims
Kirk was shot at 12.20pm during a rally at Utah Valley University by a gunman who was caught on camera dashing across a rooftop in the moments after he opened fire
‘We don’t know if this is a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration or… So we have no idea about this.’
He also echoed Tur, calling Kirk ‘one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures… who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups.’
He continued: ‘And I always go back to hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.
‘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 not expect awful actions to take place. That’s the unfortunate environment we’re in.’
Among the fierce critics of MSNBC’s comments was Barstool Sports chief Portnoy, who immediately slammed Dowd and the network on X.
He wrote: ‘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 gun shot.’
In another post, Portnoy said: ‘Truly an unhinged rant from a lefty lunatic (Dowd). Imagine saying somebody basically deserves to get murdered for their political beliefs just cause you don’t agree with him.’
Portnoy added: ‘RIP Charlie Kirk. It doesn’t matter what your opinion is of Charlie or his politics if you don’t view this as one of the darkest days in American history than you are part of the problem.’
OutKick founder Clay Travis also destroyed MSNBC, posting: ‘This is utterly despicable. MSNBC guest says Charlie should expect to get shot based on what he says.
‘I can’t believe this is real. The left wing in this country is evil and violent.’
MSNBC was forced to apologize later on. ‘During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable,’ President Rebecca Kutler said in a statement.
‘We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise.’
Kirk leaves behind his wife Erika Frantzve, with whom he had a three-year-old daughter and a son, 16 months. The couple celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary in May.
The MAGA star, wearing a white t-shirt, was sitting inside a tented gazebo when a bullet entered his neck, causing his head to violently collapse backwards.
A single shot rang out and Kirk was seen reaching up with his right hand as a large volume of blood gushed from the left side of his neck.
Stunned spectators were heard gasping and screaming before people started to run away and those closest to Kirk rushed to his aid.
UVU officials said the shot was fired from the top of the Losee Center, about 200 feet away from where Kirk was sitting.
They initially took an elderly man into custody who turned out not to be the shooter, police said.
Kirk was shot in the neck while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem
In new video footage shared on X, a figure is seen lying flat and motionless on the roof of the Losee Center – roughly 200 yards from Kirk – just moments before the shot rang out (pictured)
Kirk leaves behind wife, Erika Frantzve, and a son, three, and a daughter, 16 months
Donald Trump announced Kirk’s death and posted a moving tribute to him on Truth Social.
‘The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,’ the president said.
‘No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie.
‘He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!’
