Stephen Colbert has condemned the shooting of Charlie Kirk on Wednesday night’s episode of The Late Show.
Stephen Colbert’s message
“Our condolences go out to his family and all of his loved ones. I am old enough to personally remember the political violence of the 1960s, and I hope it is obvious to everyone in America that political violence does not solve any of our political differences. Political violence only leads to more political violence. And I pray with all my heart that this is the aberrant action of a madman and not a sign of things to come,” he said.
What happened to Charlie Kirk?
Charlie Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was fatally shot Wednesday at an event at a Utah college.
Kirk was speaking at a debate hosted by Turning Point USA at Utah Valley University when authorities said the shooter fired from a roof. Videos posted to social media show Kirk speaking into a handheld microphone while sitting under a white tent. A single shot rings out and Kirk reaches up with his right hand as blood gushes from the left side of his neck.
The shooter targeted one person, said Beau Mason, the commissioner of the state Department of Public Safety.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox called the killing a “political assassination.”
A “person of interest” was in custody Wednesday evening, Cox said, though no charges were immediately announced. Officials had no information indicating a second person was involved, the governor said.
Kirk was a top podcaster, culture warrior and ally of President Donald Trump. He led an effort to remake the GOP’s get-out-the-vote effort in the 2024 election based on the theory that there were thousands of Trump supporters who rarely vote but could be persuaded to vote.
His killing is the latest example of political violence in the U.S., spanning a range of political ideologies and affecting both major political parties.
Stephen Colbert’s show cancelled
In July, CBS confirmed that ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ will end in May 2026. The network said it was a “financial decision” due to the tough TV market. However, there has been speculation that other reasons might be involved.
Colbert has been a strong critic of former President Donald Trump. As per The Hollywood Reporter, many have questioned whether the recent merger between CBS’s parent company Paramount Global and Skydance, which needed FCC approval, had anything to do with the decision. CBS has denied that the cancellation had anything to do with politics or the merger.
(With agency inputs)
