Stephen Colbert addressed that killing of Charlie Kirk in a last-minute speech appended to the start of Wednesday night’s episode of The Late Show.
The 61-year-old comedian took on a somber tone as he addressed his audience at home from behind his desk after the right-wing activist was fatally shot during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University earlier in the day.
He bemoaned ‘political violence’ and compared Kirk’s shooting to the political violence that roiled the US in the 1960s.
Kirk was pronounced dead at 31 after being shot in the neck by a person who reportedly fired from a nearby building.
Rather than opening with the standard Late Show introduction, the broadcast opened with Colbert addressing viewers directly after other Hollywood stars had reacted to Kirk’s death.
‘After our scripts for tonight’s show were finished this afternoon, we here at The Late Show learned that Charlie Kirk, a prominent right-wing activist was killed at a speaking engagement in Utah,’ he said. ‘Our condolences go out to his family and all of his loved ones.’
Stephen Colbert, 61, addressed that killing of Charlie Kirk in a last-minute speech appended to the start of Wednesday night’s episode of The Late Show. He bemoaned ‘political violence’ and shared his condolences with Kirk’s family
Kirk, a right-wing activist, was pronounced dead at 31 after being shot in the neck by a person who reportedly fired from a nearby building while he spoke outdoors at Utah Valley University on Wednesday; pictured in June in Davie, Florida
‘I am old enough to personally remember the political violence of the 1960s, and I hope it is obvious to everyone in America that political violence does not solve any of our political differences,’ Colbert said as he looked directly into the camera.
‘Political violence only leads to more political violence,’ he added.
Colbert went on to say he hoped that Kirk’s shooting was only an isolated tragedy.
‘I pray with all my heart that this is the abhorrent action of a mad man and not a sign of things to come,’ he said.
‘After our scripts for tonight’s show were finished this afternoon, we here at The Late Show learned that Charlie Kirk, a prominent right-wing activist was killed at a speaking engagement in Utah,’ he said. ‘Our condolences go out to his family and all of his loved ones’
Colbert declared that ‘political violence does not solve any of our political differences,’ and he added,’Political violence only leads to more political violence’
