Fox News host Greg Gutfeld sparked controversy on Sunday, September 14, 2025, when he mocked colleague Howard Kurtz following Kurtz’s comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk during the final episode of “MediaBuzz.” The incident has drawn attention to tensions within the network and highlighted the broader media response to Kirk’s recent assassination.
During his last broadcast of “MediaBuzz” after the show’s cancellation, Kurtz was discussing Kirk’s murder with Washington Examiner reporter Sarah Bedford. While Bedford noted that violent extremism exists on both political sides but claimed left-wing violence has been under-reported, Kurtz responded by acknowledging the bipartisan nature of political violence.
Kurtz then made controversial remarks about the deceased activist, indicating that Kirk was not without flaws and referencing statements Kirk had made two years prior about accepting gun deaths as a cost of maintaining Second Amendment rights. The media host described the current climate as feeling like a very dangerous time following Kirk’s murder.
As video clips of Kurtz’s comments circulated on social media, Gutfeld seized the opportunity to take 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 on social media platform X, referencing the fact that Kurtz’s show had been canceled after 12 years on the air.
The timing of Gutfeld’s mockery proved particularly pointed, as Kurtz will remain with the conservative network as a political media analyst despite losing his regular hosting duties. The reassignment occurred before Kirk’s killing, but several media figures have faced consequences for criticism of Kirk or perceived insufficient mourning of his death, including job losses and online harassment.
Gutfeld has been notably vocal since Kirk’s assassination at Utah Valley University last week. During his Friday monologue starting his show “Gutfeld!”, the host spoke with gravity about processing the loss and predicted that the killing would backfire on those responsible. He argued that killing someone for their ideas only serves to amplify those ideas, comparing Kirk’s potential legacy to that of historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, and Abraham Lincoln.
The Fox News host described Kirk as someone whose entire career was built on polite conversation and suggested that grief would harden into resolve. Gutfeld expressed his belief that Kirk already understood his impact, which would only grow following his passing.
The controversy extended beyond the initial social media exchange when Gutfeld engaged in a heated discussion with “The Five” co-host Jessica Tarlov on Monday, September 15. During the show, Gutfeld questioned why political violence appears to be occurring primarily from the left rather than the right, interrupting Tarlov while they discussed Kirk’s alleged shooter Tyler Robinson.
When Tarlov cited the political killing of Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman in June as an example of right-wing violence, Gutfeld responded aggressively. He argued that none of them knew Hortman’s name before her death and that there was no demonization or amplification about her beforehand, characterizing her case as a specific crime by someone who knew her personally.
The exchange escalated when Gutfeld dismissed what he called the “both sides argument,” telling Tarlov not to play what he termed nonsense with him. He concluded by declaring that they don’t care about arguments equating violence from both political sides, stating emphatically that such reasoning was dead.
The incident reflects broader tensions within conservative media following Kirk’s assassination and highlights ongoing debates about political violence and media coverage. Kurtz had later praised Kirk’s willingness to debate anyone, but the damage from his initial comments had already sparked the public disagreement with Gutfeld.
The controversy demonstrates how Kirk’s death has created divisions even within conservative media circles, with different personalities taking varying approaches to discussing the activist’s legacy and the circumstances surrounding his assassination. Some media figures have paid professional and personal prices for their responses to the killing, creating an atmosphere where even Fox News colleagues find themselves at odds over appropriate commentary.
