Dave Portnoy scolds fired MSNBC analyst over his 'unhinged rant' on Charlie Kirk assassination

Dave Portnoy has slammed MSNBC's political contributor Matthew Dowd after he made a series of controversial claims while reporting on the assassination of Charlie Kirk that got him fired.

The conservative commentator, 31, was shot at 12.20pm during a rally at Utah Valley University by a gunman who was caught on camera dashing across a rooftop in the moments after he opened fire.

Father-of-two Kirk was hit by a single bullet while speaking to a crowd at the public university in Orem. He collapsed immediately after being hit by the gunfire and was rushed to hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

A potential suspect had been captured following a major manhunt but FBI Director Kash Patel later announced they were released. Eerie footage in the aftermath shows a shadowy figure in the distance running across the roof of the Lossee Center.

In the aftermath of the shooting, MSNBC host Katy Tur called Kirk 'divisive' and 'polarizing' while Dowd suggested the gunshot could have been fired by one of Kirk's supporters.

'[We] don't know any of the full details of this yet,' Dowd said.

'We don't know if this is a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration or... So we have no idea about this.'

He also echoed Tur, calling Kirk 'one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures... who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups.'

He continued: 'And I always go back to hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.

'I think that's the environment we're in that people just... you can't stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and not expect awful actions to take place. That's the unfortunate environment we're in.'

Among the fierce critics of MSNBC's comments was Barstool Sports chief Portnoy, who immediately slammed Dowd and the network on X.

He wrote: 'Hey @MSNBC I’m gonna go ahead and rule out that it was one of Charlie Kirk’s supporters that accidentally shot him with a celebratory gun shot.'

In another post, Portnoy said: 'Truly an unhinged rant from a lefty lunatic (Dowd). Imagine saying somebody basically deserves to get murdered for their political beliefs just cause you don’t agree with him.'

Portnoy added: 'RIP Charlie Kirk. It doesn’t matter what your opinion is of Charlie or his politics if you don’t view this as one of the darkest days in American history than you are part of the problem.'

OutKick founder Clay Travis also destroyed MSNBC, posting: 'This is utterly despicable. MSNBC guest says Charlie should expect to get shot based on what he says.

'I can’t believe this is real. The left wing in this country is evil and violent.'

MSNBC was forced to apologize later on before Variety reported Dowd had been let go.

'During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable,' President Rebecca Kutler said in a statement.

'We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise.'

Dowd also issued his own apology, posting on BlueSky: 'I apologize for my tone and words. Let me be clear, I in no way intended for my comments to blame Kirk for this horrendous attack. Let us all come together and condemn violence of any kind.'

Kirk leaves behind his wife Erika Frantzve, with whom he had a three-year-old daughter and a son, 16 months. The couple celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary in May.

The MAGA star, wearing a white t-shirt, was sitting inside a tented gazebo when a bullet entered his neck, causing his head to violently collapse backwards.

A single shot rang out and Kirk was seen reaching up with his right hand as a large volume of blood gushed from the left side of his neck.

Stunned spectators were heard gasping and screaming before people started to run away and those closest to Kirk rushed to his aid.

UVU officials said the shot was fired from the top of the Losee Center, about 200 feet away from where Kirk was sitting.

They initially took an elderly man into custody who turned out not to be the shooter, police said.

Donald Trump announced Kirk's death and posted a moving tribute to him on Truth Social.

'The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,' the president said.

'No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie.

'He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!'