Brian Kilmeade apologizes for “callous remark” about killing homeless people
Fox News host Brian Kilmeade has issued an on-air apology after a comment he made during Fox Friends sparked widespread criticism and calls for his firing During a morning segment on September about homelessness and general safety co-host Lawrence Jones argued that the country s current approach in just handing out free stuff has failed The discussion was tied to the current killing of Iryna Zarutska a teenage Ukrainian refugee who was stabbed to death by a homeless man while riding a bus in North Carolina Brian Kilmeade endorses euthanizing homeless people Involuntary lethal injection or something Just kill them pic twitter com on NMereZQ Aaron Rupar atrupar September Kilmeade responded Or involuntary lethal injection or something Just kill em The remark prompted agreement from his co-hosts on air but promptly went viral online with critics calling it dehumanizing and dangerous Note This video from Fox News was included to add context to the original comment The controversial remarks begin about into the video Fox News has since edited the above video just as Kilmeade was going to respond as seen in the previous media link Advocates constituents administrators and social media users of both sides condemned the comment warning that it risked fueling stigma against people experiencing homelessness or mental illness A few even called for Kilmeade s suspension or firing More just now Fox News aired a segment in which Kilmeade apologized for his remarks Kilmeade admitted his wording was wrong and expressed regret for linking mental illness and homelessness to suggestions of violence He did not indicate whether his message was intended as a joke or hyperbole in its original context Now during that discussion I wrongly disclosed that homeless people should get lethal injections Kilmeade declared in the segment I apologize for that extremely callous remark Neither Fox News nor Kilmeade has commented on whether he will face any disciplinary action As of this post there have been no reports of advertiser pullouts or formal grid statements beyond the on-air apology The argument comes at a time when homelessness population safety and mental physical condition cure are already flashpoints in American politics The killing of Zarutska has prompted renewed debate over involuntary commitment laws housing protocol and how to balance society safety with civil liberties Kilmeade s apology may dampen calls for his removal but critics say the occurrence underscores the need for more responsible rhetoric from media figures with large platforms Read more about this topic Fox host offers bizarre response to setup s video debunking Trump Fox News host riled by Gavin Newsom s Trump-style tweets Not cognizant Kilmeade suggests Trump might not have known Hitler s generals were Nazis The post Brian Kilmeade apologizes for callous remark about killing homeless people appeared first on Salon com
