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Newsday, a daily newspaper catering to Long Island, New York residents, has apologized for an editorial cartoon deemed “insensitive and offensive” that referenced the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. This response followed growing calls for a boycott of the publication.
Kirk, the founder of the influential organization Turning Point USA, was killed during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The contentious cartoon depicted an empty chair with grotesque blood splatters underneath a tent labeled “Charlie Kirk,” along with the slogan “Prove Me Wrong,” featuring an arrow pointing from “Turning Point USA” to the vacant seat.
Created by Chip Bok, this cartoon is part of a troubling trend of insensitive reactions to Kirk’s assassination. Many individuals who publicly celebrated his death, including professionals across various fields, have faced significant backlash, with some losing their jobs due to their remarks.
After criticism from Long Island conservatives, Newsday described the cartoon’s publication as an “error in judgment,” according to a report by Fox News.
In a statement, Newsday said, “On Saturday, Newsday published a syndicated editorial cartoon referring to the assassination of Charlie Kirk that was insensitive and offensive. We deeply regret the mistake and sincerely apologize to the family of Charlie Kirk and to all.” The statement continued, “We made an error in judgment. The cartoon has been removed from our digital platforms. 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.”
Jesse Garcia, chairman of the Suffolk County Republican Party, criticized the publication on social media, claiming it “crossed a line” and demanded the removal of the “vile cartoon.” He stated, “By publishing a vile cartoon about the political assassination of Charlie Kirk, the paper has mocked tragedy, stoked division, and poured gasoline on the flames of political violence. This isn’t journalism. It’s a reckless, partisan attack that blames the victim, silences free speech, and shames everything this country should stand for. There is no way – or context – that this disgraceful political cartoon can be excused away.”
Garcia further urged the public, “Do not support a publication that normalizes hate and endangers lives. It’s this type of hate – by media outlets like Newsday and others, social media platforms, and national, state, and local Democrat officials that instill political violence against those they disagree with.”
Mike Crispi, a Trump campaign delegate from New Jersey, called on residents to “drop your subscription,” while Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) labeled the political cartoon as “heinous.” As of this writing, Newsday has not disclosed whether it will take any internal action regarding this editorial oversight.
