A Long Island newspaper, Newsday, found itself in hot water after publishing a controversial political cartoon about the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. The backlash was swift and fierce, leading to a public apology from the paper on Sunday.
The cartoon, which appeared in Newsday’s Saturday edition, showed an empty chair with a blood stain under a tent labeled “Charlie Kirk” and “Prove Me Wrong.” An arrow pointed to the seat, marked with “Turning Point USA”—the name of the nonprofit Kirk co-founded. Drawn by Pulitzer finalist Chip Bok, the image quickly sparked outrage across Long Island for being insensitive and mocking a real tragedy.
Suffolk County Republican Party Chairman Jesse Garcia didn’t hold back in his criticism. “Newsday has crossed a line,” he said in a statement. “This vile cartoon mocks tragedy, stokes division, and fuels political violence. It’s not journalism—it’s a reckless attack that blames the victim and silences free speech.” Garcia demanded the cartoon’s removal from all platforms, Bok’s contract termination, and an apology to Kirk’s family and readers. He even called for a boycott by advertisers and subscribers until Newsday took action.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman echoed the anger, calling the cartoon “over the top despicable” in a Facebook post. “Cancel Newsday!” he urged, slamming the paper for abandoning fairness.
To recap the tragic incident: Charlie Kirk, 31, was speaking at Utah Valley University on September 10 when a single gunshot rang out from the crowd. He had just fielded a question about mass shootings by transgender individuals during his “Prove Me Wrong” event. Video footage captured Kirk recoiling in pain, clutching his neck as panic spread among thousands of attendees. The alleged shooter, 22-year-old Utah student Tyler Robinson, was identified on Friday. Authorities say he wrote “Hey fascist! Catch!” on the bullet.
Facing a torrent of criticism, Newsday pulled the cartoon from its digital platforms and issued an apology. “We published a syndicated editorial cartoon referring to the assassination of Charlie Kirk that was insensitive and offensive,” the paper stated. “We deeply regret this mistake and sincerely apologize to the Kirk family and to all. The imagery was inappropriate and should never have been published in Newsday.”
Newsday explained that Bok aimed to use Turning Point USA and the event theme to suggest the assassination could be a “turning point for healing our nation’s divide.” Earlier, they posted a shorter note: “Newsday apologizes for cartoon about Charlie Kirk assassination.”
Reactions were mixed. Garcia accepted the apology on behalf of Suffolk County Republicans, praising the paper for owning up to the error. “Words and images matter,” he noted, hoping it serves as a lesson for newsrooms everywhere. But some readers remained skeptical. “How can you even come back from this?” one commented online.
It’s unclear if Bok, who has contributed to major outlets like the Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Time, and Newsweek, faces any consequences or if he works freelance for Newsday. The paper didn’t respond to requests for more details at the time. This controversy highlights the fine line between satire and insensitivity in political cartoons, especially amid rising tensions over political violence.
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