Fox News host Brian Kilmeade issued a public apology on Sunday, September 15, 2025, after facing widespread criticism for suggesting that mentally ill homeless people should be executed. The controversial remarks were made during a Wednesday, September 11 broadcast of “Fox & Friends” but gained viral attention over the weekend.
The incident occurred while Kilmeade and co-hosts Lawrence Jones and Ainsley Earhardt were discussing the August 22 stabbing murder of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina. Decarlos Brown Jr., a homeless man diagnosed with schizophrenia, was arrested for the murder and faces both state and federal charges.
During the Wednesday discussion, Jones suggested that homeless people with mental illness should either accept publicly funded programs or be jailed. Kilmeade then interjected with his inflammatory response, suggesting involuntary lethal injection and telling viewers to “just kill ’em.” Earhardt responded by asking why the situation had reached such a point, to which Kilmeade replied that the country was not voting for the right people.
The comments initially received limited attention but began circulating widely on social media Saturday morning when Fox News critics shared the clip. By Sunday afternoon, the video had garnered more than 20 million views on social media platform X, with many commenters calling for Fox News to take disciplinary action against Kilmeade.
California Governor Gavin Newsom was among the political figures who responded to the controversy, posting a biblical verse on social media that read: “Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.” Christine Quinn, president and CEO of Win, a New York City organization providing shelter services for homeless children, described Kilmeade’s rhetoric as completely devoid of humanity and invited him to volunteer at one of their shelters.
Appearing remotely on “Fox & Friends Weekend” on Sunday, Kilmeade addressed the controversy directly. “I wrongly said they should get lethal injection,” he stated, adding that he apologized for the extremely callous remark. He acknowledged that not all mentally ill homeless people act as the perpetrator did in North Carolina and that many homeless people deserve empathy and compassion.
The apology came amid a broader climate of controversy surrounding media commentary following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah on Wednesday. Several media figures have faced disciplinary action for remarks deemed inappropriate in connection with Kirk’s death. MSNBC analyst Matthew Dowd was fired for suggesting that hateful rhetoric can lead to hateful actions, while Kilmeade remained employed by Fox News despite his controversial comments.
Brown, the suspect in the Charlotte murder, has a lengthy criminal history including 14 prior arrests and served five years in prison for robbery with a dangerous weapon. His mother told local media that she recently sought an involuntary psychiatric commitment after he became violent at home. The Justice Department announced that Brown faces federal charges for committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system in addition to state murder charges.
Zarutska had fled to the United States to escape the war in Ukraine and was living in a bomb shelter before relocating. Her death has become a focal point for Republican politicians who blame Democratic policies for such violent crimes. However, studies indicate that people experiencing homelessness are more likely to be victims of violent crime than perpetrators, and mental illness is not considered a predictor of future violence.
This incident represents the latest in a series of controversial statements made by Kilmeade throughout his career at Fox News. Previous apologies include remarks about “pure genes” in 2009, comments about terrorists and Muslims in 2010, defense of family separation policies at the border, and the use of a doctored image involving Ghislaine Maxwell in 2022. Fox News management did not respond to requests for comment regarding potential disciplinary measures against Kilmeade.
The controversy highlights ongoing debates about media responsibility and the treatment of vulnerable populations in political discourse. Critics have noted the disparity in consequences between different networks, with some commentators facing termination for less inflammatory remarks while others receive no apparent discipline.
Sources:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fox-news-brian-kilmeade-apologizes-mentally-ill-homeless-people-executed/
https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/fox-news-host-kill-homeless-brian-kilmeade-apology-rcna231369
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/14/fox-brian-kilmeade-apology-homelessness-comments
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6379403917112
https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/14/business/brian-kilmeade-fox-news-apology-homeless