Newsday apologizes for cartoon about Charlie Kirk's assassination
Newsday is apologizing for the cartoon's publication. Credit: Newsday
Newsday issued an apology after it published and then removed from online platforms a cartoon depicting Charlie Kirk's killing that was widely criticized.
The syndicated cartoon, which ran in print editions Saturday, shows an empty chair under a tent marked "CHARLIE KIRK," with blood scattered against the wall behind it, and an arrow pointing to the chair with the text "TURNING POINT USA." The tent is adorned with the words "PROVE ME WRONG," Kirk's slogan for the event at which he was killed.
Commenters and some public officials wrote online that they felt the cartoon — published as part of a "Cartoon Roundup" — seemed to trivialize or mock Kirk's death.
On Sunday afternoon, Newsday issued a written apology, calling the cartoon "insensitive and offensive."
"We deeply regret this mistake and sincerely apologize to the family of Charlie Kirk and to all. We made an error in judgment. The cartoon has been removed from our digital platforms," the statement said.
It went on: "In his illustration, Chip Bok used the name of Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA, and the theme of his Utah event — "Prove Me Wrong" — to suggest that Kirk’s assassination might be a turning point for healing our nation’s divide. The imagery was inappropriate and should never have been published in Newsday," reads the statement, signed by "Newsday Leadership."
The apology came after an earlier statement from editorial page editor Rita Ciolli, which stated, "We regret the upset [the cartoon] caused."
Suffolk Republican Party Chairman Jesse Garcia, in a social media post on Saturday, called for the cartoon to be pulled, the artist’s contract to be terminated, and for an apology.
U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) and other officials posted similar criticisms online, calling for Newsday to fire the cartoonist.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman posted criticism of Newsday on X late Saturday night, saying the cartoon "trivialized" Kirk's death and calling it "so over the top despicable" and "shocking."
The cartoonist, Chip Bok, is not a Newsday employee but rather a nationally syndicated cartoonist based in Ohio. Newsday reached out to the national syndication agency that distributes his cartoons for comment. The agency did not immediately respond.
After Newsday issued the apology, Garcia said in a statement: "On behalf of the Suffolk County and Brookhaven Republican Committees, I accept this apology. ... Charlie Kirk was a man of faith, family, and country. His tragic loss should never be trivialized."
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