Matt Gutman said he aimed to highlight the \u2018contrast\u2019 between the killing and Tyler Robinson\u2019s affectionate texts to his partner<\/p>\n
ABC News correspondent Matt Gutman has apologized for a report in which he described \u201cvery touching\u201d\u00a0text messages\u00a0between the alleged killer of conservative\u00a0influencer Charlie Kirk\u00a0and his transgender partner.\u00a0
\nUtah County Attorney General Jeff Gray had read some of the messages while announcing charges against Tyler Robinson, accused of fatally shooting Kirk at Utah Valley University.
\n\u201cI want to protect you, my love,\u201d Robinson allegedly told his partner.\u00a0Gutman described the messages as \u201ca very intimate portrait\u201d and \u201cvery touching.\u201d\u00a0He described Robinson as\u00a0\u201ca very human person\u201d\u00a0and said there was a\u00a0\u201cheartbreaking duality\u201d\u00a0in the case, pointing to Robinson\u2019s high academic record.
\nFollowing a backlash, Gutman posted an apology on X.
\n\u201dYesterday I tried to underscore the jarring contrast between this cold blooded assassination of Charlie Kirk \u2026 and the personal, disturbing texts read aloud by the Utah County Attorney at the press conference,\u201d Gutman wrote on Wednesday. \u201cI deeply regret that my words did not make that clear.\u201d
\n\u201cLet there be zero doubt here: I unequivocally condemn this horrific crime,\u201d he said.\u00a0
\nKirk, a conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed during a university appearance earlier this week. Authorities say Robinson was arrested and charged after evidence, including texts and surveillance footage, allegedly linked him to the crime.<\/p>\n
Read more<\/p>\n
Suspect in Charlie Kirk murder held \u2018trans-oriented\u2019 views \u2013 attorney<\/p>\n
The killing has triggered reactions across the political spectrum, with some on the left openly expressing approval.
\nSince the shooting, several individuals have faced disciplinary measures over social media posts that appeared to celebrate or mock Kirk\u2019s death.
\nMSNBC ended its relationship with analyst Matthew Dowd after he linked the killing to Kirk\u2019s rhetoric. Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel\u2019s show was pulled off the air indefinitely following comments he made about the assassination.
\nOther organizations, including Nasdaq, the US Secret Service, United Airlines, Fox Sports, and the Washington Post have also taken action against staff.US Vice President J.D. Vance has called on the public to report individuals who praise or joke about the killing to their employers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Matt Gutman said he aimed to highlight the \u2018contrast\u2019 between the killing and Tyler Robinson\u2019s affectionate texts to his partner ABC News correspondent Matt Gutman has apologized for a report…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18388,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18387","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-environment","category-politics"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t