ABC News chief national correspondent Matt Gutman issued a public apology on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, after facing intense backlash for describing text messages between accused assassin Tyler Robinson and his partner as “very touching” during live television coverage.
The controversy erupted following Gutman’s commentary on Tuesday during an ABC special report covering a press conference where Utah County prosecutors revealed charges against Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025.
During the broadcast, Gutman analyzed text messages Robinson allegedly sent to his roommate and romantic partner following the shooting. The reporter described the messages as providing an intimate portrait of the relationship between Robinson and his partner, who prosecutors identified as transitioning genders. Gutman noted how Robinson repeatedly referred to his partner using terms of endearment and expressed desires to protect them.
The ABC correspondent characterized the situation as a duality, contrasting the brutal nature of Kirk’s assassination with what he perceived as loving language in the suspect’s private communications. He emphasized that Robinson had allegedly jeopardized not only Kirk’s life but also endangered the crowd, including children present at the Utah Valley University event.
Conservative politicians and media figures quickly condemned Gutman’s remarks. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis characterized the coverage as representative of legacy media, while Indiana Senator Jim Banks expressed shock at the commentary. Fox News host Will Cain described the approach as fundamentally broken, and former “The View” co-host Meghan McCain questioned whether everyone at ABC had lost their minds.
Fox News contributor Joe Concha called for Gutman’s termination, describing the comments as delusional and nauseating. Republican political strategist Alex Bruesewitz labeled the reporting as disgusting and demanded the reporter’s dismissal. Conservative commentator Chaya Raichik, who operates the Libs of TikTok social media account, characterized the remarks as sick.
On Wednesday morning, Gutman addressed the controversy through a statement posted on social media platform X. He explained that he had attempted to underscore the jarring contrast between Kirk’s cold-blooded assassination and the personal texts read during the prosecutor’s press conference. Gutman stated, “I deeply regret that my words did not make that clear.”
The reporter emphasized his unequivocal condemnation of the crime and expressed regret for the pain caused to Kirk’s family, witnesses at the university, and the millions of people Kirk had inspired throughout his career as a conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA.
According to court documents released during the press conference, Robinson’s text messages to his partner included confessions about the shooting and detailed instructions about hiding evidence. The suspect allegedly told his roommate not to speak with media representatives and to request legal counsel if questioned by police authorities.
The messages reportedly included Robinson’s justification for the shooting, claiming he had grown tired of Kirk’s rhetoric. He described attempting to retrieve his rifle without detection and expressed concerns about leaving forensic evidence at the scene.
This incident represents the second time Gutman has faced professional consequences for on-air comments. ABC News suspended him in 2020 for making erroneous statements during coverage of the helicopter crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant and eight others.
The controversy surrounding Gutman’s remarks reflects a broader pattern of media figures facing consequences for their statements regarding Kirk’s assassination. MSNBC terminated political analyst Matthew Dowd after he suggested Kirk’s rhetoric contributed to his own death. The Washington Post dismissed opinion columnist Karen Attiah for social media posts about racial double standards following the killing.
Robinson faces charges of aggravated murder and six additional counts related to the September 10 shooting. Prosecutors have indicated their intention to seek the death penalty in the case. The suspect appeared virtually at his first court hearing on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, where formal charges were presented.
The case has highlighted the intense scrutiny facing journalists and media personalities when covering politically charged events. Utah Governor Spencer Cox, a Republican, has called for an end to political division and violence, describing the nation as broken and pleading for Americans to stop hating their fellow citizens.
ABC News has not announced any disciplinary actions against Gutman beyond his public apology. The network has not responded to requests for comment regarding potential consequences for the reporter’s controversial remarks about the case.
