ABC News chief national correspondent Matt Gutman faced intense backlash and issued an apology on September 17, 2025, after describing text messages between accused Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson and his roommate as “very touching” during live television coverage.
The controversy erupted following a press conference on September 16 where Utah County prosecutors revealed text messages Robinson allegedly sent to his roommate after shooting conservative activist Kirk at Utah Valley University on September 10. Robinson, 22, was formally charged with aggravated murder and six other charges, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty.
During ABC’s coverage of the press conference, Gutman commented on the language Robinson used in the alleged text exchanges with his romantic partner, who prosecutors identified as transitioning. Gutman described the messages as creating a very intimate portrait of the relationship, noting how Robinson repeatedly referred to his roommate as “my love” and expressed wanting to protect his partner.
The reporter emphasized what he characterized as a duality between someone who allegedly committed a brutal public murder and the affectionate language used toward his partner. Gutman stated: “I deeply regret that my words did not make that clear.”
The remarks triggered immediate condemnation from prominent Republican figures and conservative commentators. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis characterized the coverage as legacy media in all its glory, while Indiana Senator Jim Banks expressed shock. Fox News host Will Cain described the media as fundamentally and irredeemably broken, and former co-host of The View Meghan McCain questioned whether everyone at ABC was out of their minds.
According to court documents, the text messages included Robinson’s confession to his roommate about the shooting. Robinson allegedly wrote that he hoped to keep the secret until he died of old age and apologized for involving his partner. When asked about his motivation, Robinson reportedly explained he had enough of Kirk’s hatred and believed some hate cannot be negotiated away.
The messages also contained detailed instructions about concealing evidence, including attempts to retrieve his rifle and advice for his roommate to request a lawyer if questioned by police. Robinson reportedly told his partner not to take interviews or make comments and to remain silent if contacted by law enforcement.
On September 17, Gutman posted a two-part apology on social media platform X, explaining he intended to underscore the jarring contrast between the cold-blooded assassination of Kirk and the personal texts revealed during the press conference. He indicated he unequivocally condemned the horrific crime and the pain it caused Kirk’s family, witnesses at the university, and the millions Kirk inspired.
The incident represents the latest controversy surrounding media coverage of Kirk’s assassination. Several media figures have faced professional consequences for their commentary following the shooting. MSNBC terminated political analyst Matthew Dowd after he suggested Kirk’s rhetoric contributed to his own death, arguing that hateful thoughts lead to hateful words and actions.
Washington Post opinion columnist Karen Attiah reported being dismissed without conversation after posting about racial double standards following Kirk’s death. She had written about America’s insistence that people perform care and absolution for white men who espouse hatred and violence.
The controversy has led to calls for Gutman’s termination from ABC News. Conservative commentators and social media users described his remarks as disgusting and nauseating. Some accused the reporter of romanticizing a confession to murder and humanizing an accused killer while allegedly demonizing the victim.
This marks the second significant controversy for Gutman during his tenure with ABC News. The network suspended him in 2020 for inaccurate reporting following the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and others. Gutman has served as ABC’s chief national correspondent since 2018 and has been with the network since 2005, covering global crises from more than 50 countries.
The backlash reflects the heightened scrutiny facing journalists covering politically sensitive events in an increasingly polarized media environment. Robinson’s alleged text messages revealed both his confession to the murder and intimate details about his relationship with his transitioning roommate, creating what Gutman described as an unexpected contrast between the violence and the personal communications.
