MSNBC cut ties with contributor Matthew Dowd earlier this week after what the network described as “inappropriate, insensitive, and unacceptable” comments he made in the wake of the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Now, top executives from parent company Comcast and Versant are speaking out about the incident.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting that killed Kirk, Dowd suggested that Kirk’s prior rhetoric was responsible for his shooting.
“Hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which ten lead to hateful actions,” Dowd said. “You can’t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and then not expect awful actions to take place.”
In a memo to staffers on Friday, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, President Mike Cavanaugh, and Versant CEO Mark Lazarus addressed the situation in a joint statement. The trio stated that they were disappointed by the failings of the comments and network in the way the story was covered.
“That coverage was at odds with fostering civil dialogue and being willing to listen to the points of view of those who have differing opinions,” the executives wrote. “We should be able to disagree, robustly and passionately, but, ultimately, with respect. We need to do better.”
The entire memo, obtained by Barrett Media, is below.
Dear Comcast NBCUniversal Team,
The tragic loss of Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old father, husband, and advocate for open debate, whose faith was important to him, reminds us of the fragility of life and the urgent need for unity in our nation. Our hearts are heavy, as his passing leaves a grieving family and a country grappling with division. There is no place for violence or hate in our society.
You may have seen that MSNBC recently ended its association with a contributor who made an unacceptable and insensitive comment about this horrific event. That coverage was at odds with fostering civil dialogue and being willing to listen to the points of view of those who have differing opinions. We should be able to disagree, robustly and passionately, but, ultimately, with respect. We need to do better.
Charlie Kirk believed that “when people stop talking, really bad stuff starts.” Regardless of whether you agreed with his political views, his words and actions underscore the urgency to maintain a respectful exchange of ideas – a principle we must champion. We believe in the power of communication to bring us together. Today, that belief feels more vital than ever. Something essential has fractured in our public discourse, and as a company that values the power of information, we have a responsibility to help mend it.
As employees, we ask you to embody our values in your work and communities. We should engage with respect, listen, and treat people with kindness.
The joint memo from Lazarus, Roberts, and Cavanaugh comes as Versant prepares to separate from NBCUniversal early next year. After that separation, Lazarus will remain in charge of MSNBC — and CNBC — while Comcast’s NBCUniversal will oversee the NBC News brand.
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