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After the deadly shooting of Charlie Kirk, the top brass at MSNBC-owner Comcast has a message for employees: “Maintain a respectful exchange of ideas.”
In a memo to employees following the dismissal of MSNBC contributor Matthew Dowd, three Comcast and Versant executives called Kirk’s death a “tragic loss,” writing that “his words and actions underscore the urgency to maintain a respectful exchange of ideas — a principle we must champion.”
The memo was written by Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, Comcast president Mike Cavanagh, and Mark Lazarus, the prospective CEO of Versant, the spin-off company housing cable channels like MSNBC.
The cable news channel recently drew backlash after Dowd said on MSNBC in the wake of Kirk’s shooting on Wednesday that “hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.” Dowd’s statements were widely criticized, and MSNBC severed ties with him that same day. Dowd apologized for the comments in a social media post.
The Comcast memo referred to the dismissal, calling the contributor’s on-air remark an “unacceptable and insensitive comment.”
The memo’s signatories wrote that we need to “be able to disagree, robustly and passionately, but, ultimately, with respect.” They asked employees to “treat people with kindness.”
The development underscores the level of conversation that Kirk’s death has generated as media networks have closely covered the conservative activist’s cultural impact as well as the manhunt for the shooting suspect, who is now in custody. The decision by Comcast to send a memo to all employees highlights how top media executives are looking to ensure sensitivity in coverage of Kirk, who was a Trump ally.
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Here’s the full message from CEO Brian Roberts, Mike Cavanagh, and Mark Lazarus:
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.
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