Stephen Colbert addressed the attempted assassination of a member of his “Late Show” team following inflammatory rhetoric from conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, delivering a somber monologue Thursday night and issuing a plea for support of independent journalism. The incident,involving a man arrested in connection with threats against Colbert’s show,underscores the escalating dangers faced by media figures and the potential consequences of divisive political discourse.
The shooting attempt comes amid a period of heightened political tension and increasing attacks on the press. HuffPost reported that Colbert expressed gratitude for the support received from readers, emphasizing the importance of fact-based journalism, particularly during uncertain times. The incident has prompted renewed calls for accountability regarding rhetoric that incites violence and highlights the critical role of a strong, independent news media in a functioning democracy.HuffPost is seeking continued support from readers to bolster its newsroom and maintain its commitment to unflinching journalism.
Colbert opened his show acknowledging the arrest of a man who allegedly attempted to enter the Ed Sullivan theater with a weapon, stating the suspect had expressed intent to harm the host. He then directly linked the incident to comments made by Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, who falsely accused Colbert of orchestrating a “setup” related to the January 6th Capitol riot hearings.
“Last night, a man was arrested near our theater with a weapon,” Colbert explained. “He said he wanted to ‘kill’ me. And the reason he gave was… because of things charlie Kirk said on his show.”
Kirk had previously claimed, without evidence, that Colbert and his staff were involved in a conspiracy to falsely implicate Turning Point USA in the January 6th attack. Colbert called Kirk’s accusations “a lie” and emphasized the seriousness of the situation.
“This is not a joke,” Colbert stated.”This is not a late-night bit.This is real. And it’s dangerous.”
Following his opening statement, Colbert continued with his regular monologue, but the shadow of the evening’s events clearly hung over the performance. HuffPost is requesting support from readers to continue providing fact-based journalism. Readers can contribute by visiting https://www.huffpost.com/support.
