Reporter Admits Regret Over Endorsement of Controversial Remarks Regarding Suspect's Texts Made by a GOP Member, Issues Sincere Apology
ABC News reporter Matt Gutman has issued an apology for his analysis of Tyler Robinson's text exchanges, the suspect in the murder of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. The apology came on Wednesday, following criticism from conservatives and suspension from ABC in 2020 for erroneous reporting on the helicopter crash that killed basketball great Kobe Bryant and others.
Gutman's analysis, which took place in front of children, focused on the lovey-dovey language in Robinson's text messages. He described the exchanges as 'touching' and 'intimate,' highlighting that Robinson repeatedly called his roommate, who was transitioning, 'my love' and 'I wanna protect you, my love.' However, Gutman also mentioned a 'duality' in Robinson's actions, as he allegedly jeopardized the life of Charlie Kirk and the crowd, but spoke lovingly about his partner.
This apology is one of many amid the tension generated by Kirk's assassination. Outlets and individuals have been apologizing and taking further action for their missteps. Gutman unequivocally condemned the horrific crime that resulted in Charlie Kirk's death.
Gutman's apology was written on X.com, and he also addressed the outrage he provoked on Wednesday. Notable figures such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Indiana Sen. Jim Banks, Fox News host Will Cain, and Meghan McCain were among those who criticized Gutman.
It is important to note that there is no information in the provided search results about any person accusing Gutman in 2020 of inaccurate reporting and being dismissed for the fatal accident of Kobe Bryant and others.
The incident occurred on September 16, 2025. The prosecution presented text messages as evidence at a press conference, which Gutman discussed in his analysis. Gutman's tweet about the incident can be found at https://t.co/J6Yow0Qz33.
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
