Fox News host Greg Gutfeld drew criticism on Sunday, September 14, 2025, after mocking his colleague Howard Kurtz following Kurtz’s controversial comments about murdered conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The incident occurred during the final episode of Kurtz’s “MediaBuzz” program, which was canceled after 12 years on air.
During his last show, Kurtz was discussing Kirk’s assassination with Washington Examiner reporter Sarah Bedford. Bedford noted that violent extremism exists on both political sides but claimed that left-wing violence has been under-reported. Kurtz responded by acknowledging the bipartisan nature of political violence before making remarks about Kirk that would later spark controversy.
Kurtz stated that Kirk was not a saint, referencing comments Kirk made two years earlier about accepting gun deaths as a cost of maintaining Second Amendment rights. He indicated that Kirk’s murder made the current political climate feel particularly dangerous. The comments spread rapidly on social media through video clips.
Gutfeld, who hosts his own show on Fox News, responded on social media platform X with a dig at his colleague’s changed status at the network. “Maybe we can tune in next week for a clarification….oh wait…” Gutfeld wrote, mocking the fact that Kurtz’s show had been canceled and would no longer be on the air.
While Kurtz’s show ended, he will remain with Fox News as a political media analyst. The reassignment occurred before Kirk’s killing, though some media figures who were perceived as not properly mourning Kirk’s death have faced job losses and online harassment. Kurtz later praised Kirk’s willingness to debate anyone, attempting to provide additional context to his earlier remarks.
The exchange highlighted tensions within Fox News following Kirk’s assassination at Utah Valley University the previous week. Gutfeld has been particularly vocal since the killing, using his program to process the loss and predict that the assassination would backfire on those responsible.
On Monday, September 15, Gutfeld engaged in another heated exchange about Kirk’s death during “The Five” with co-host Jessica Tarlov. When discussing the alleged shooter Tyler Robinson’s background, Gutfeld questioned why such violence only seems to occur on the left side of the political spectrum. Tarlov responded by citing the political killing of Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman in June.
The discussion became increasingly contentious as Gutfeld challenged whether Tarlov knew Hortman’s name before her death, arguing that there was no demonization campaign against Hortman before she was killed. He distinguished between what he saw as a specific crime against Hortman by someone who knew her versus the broader targeting of Kirk. Gutfeld also referenced the case of Josh Shapiro, noting that the perpetrator was a pro-Palestine activist.
Gutfeld concluded his argument by rejecting Tarlov’s “both sides” assessment of political violence. He expressed frustration with attempts to draw equivalencies between left and right-wing violence, stating that such arguments no longer held weight with viewers. The exchange demonstrated the ongoing divisions within Fox News programming about how to discuss and contextualize political violence.
The incident reflects broader tensions at Fox News as personalities navigate coverage of Kirk’s assassination and its aftermath. Gutfeld’s mockery of Kurtz came at a time when several media figures faced consequences for their responses to Kirk’s death. The controversy also highlighted the challenges facing news personalities as they attempt to balance analysis with sensitivity surrounding politically motivated violence.
Gutfeld’s Friday night monologue following Kirk’s death had struck a grave tone, suggesting that the assassination would ultimately strengthen Kirk’s legacy rather than silence his ideas. He compared Kirk’s potential posthumous influence to that of historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy, arguing that killing someone for their ideas only gives those concepts greater power and reach.
