Fox News host Brian Kilmeade faced widespread criticism and issued an apology Sunday after suggesting that mentally ill homeless people should be executed by lethal injection if they refuse treatment. The controversial remarks were made during a September 11 broadcast of “Fox and Friends” while discussing a recent stabbing incident in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The discussion centered on an August incident in which an unhoused and mentally ill man stabbed and killed a Ukrainian refugee on a train in Charlotte. According to The Associated Press, the arrested suspect had been previously diagnosed with schizophrenia, and his mother had sought his involuntary psychiatric commitment earlier this year after he became violent at home.
During the broadcast, co-host Lawrence Jones suggested that mentally ill homeless people who refuse treatment should be locked up. Kilmeade then responded with the verbatim statement: “Or involuntary lethal injection, or something. Just kill ’em.”
The reaction from his colleagues was notably muted. Co-host Ainsley Earhardt appeared to take his proposal seriously, asking why the situation had reached such a point. Kilmeade responded by indicating that voters were not selecting the right political candidates.
The video clip gained significant attention over the weekend, prompting criticism from left-leaning media figures and Democratic political leaders, including California Governor Gavin Newsom. The widespread backlash ultimately led to Kilmeade’s public apology on Sunday.
In his apology statement, Kilmeade acknowledged that the Wednesday discussion had focused on the murder of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte and methods to prevent similar attacks by homeless, mentally ill individuals. He admitted to wrongly suggesting lethal injections and described his remark as extremely callous.
Kilmeade also stated in his apology that he was aware that not all mentally ill homeless people act as the North Carolina perpetrator did, and that many homeless people deserve empathy and compassion. However, critics noted the qualified nature of his apology, particularly his use of terms like “not all” and “many” when referring to which homeless individuals deserve compassion.
The incident occurred against the backdrop of ongoing debates about how society should address homelessness and mental health issues. The Charlotte case highlighted systemic failures in treating individuals with documented histories of violence and mental illness while protecting public safety.
The suspect’s mother had previously attempted to have her son involuntarily committed for psychiatric treatment after he exhibited violent behavior at home. This background information underscored the complex challenges families face when trying to get help for relatives with severe mental health conditions.
The lack of immediate pushback from Kilmeade’s co-hosts during the original broadcast drew additional scrutiny. Media observers noted that neither Jones nor Earhardt appeared surprised or challenged Kilmeade’s suggestion about executing mentally ill individuals who refuse treatment.
Critics characterized Kilmeade’s original comments as reflecting broader attitudes within certain political circles toward vulnerable populations, including the homeless and mentally ill. The incident sparked discussions about how media personalities discuss solutions to complex social problems involving society’s most vulnerable members.
The controversy highlighted ongoing policy debates about involuntary commitment, treatment options for individuals with severe mental illness, and public safety concerns. Mental health advocates have long argued for increased funding and resources for treatment programs rather than punitive approaches.
Kilmeade’s Sunday apology came approximately four days after the original broadcast and followed intense criticism across social media platforms. The Fox News host has been a longtime co-host of the morning show “Fox and Friends,” which regularly covers political and social issues.
The incident involving Zarutska represented a tragic intersection of mental health crisis, homelessness, and public safety concerns that communities across the United States continue to grapple with in developing effective policy responses.
