ABC's Matt Gutman blasted for calling Tyler Robinson's texts to his partner 'very touching'

WASHINGTON, DC: ABC News correspondent Matt Gutman is facing backlash after describing the intimate text messages from Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old charged with murdering conservative activist Charlie Kirk, as “very touching.”

He made the comments while covering the press conference announcing murder charges against Robinson.

Matt Gutman describes Tyler Robinson's message to his partner

While summarizing evidence presented by prosecutors, Gutman highlighted what he described as “very touching” text messages Robinson had sent to his partner.

The messages, reportedly discussing the murder weapon and the planned attack, included affectionate phrases like “my love” and statements about wanting to protect his partner.

“But also, it was very touching in a way that many of us didn’t expect,” Gutman said during the broadcast.

“A very intimate portrait into this relationship between the suspect’s roommate and the suspect himself, with him repeatedly calling his roommate, who is transitioning, ‘my love.’ And ‘I want to protect you, my love,” he said.

Matt Gutman calls text exchanges 'heartbreaking'

Gutman went on to describe the contrast between the alleged act of violence and the personal tone of the messages by Robinson.

“So, it was this duality of someone who the attorney said not only jeopardized the life of Charlie Kirk and the crowd, but was doing it in front of children, which is one of the aggravating circumstances of this case. And then, on the other hand, he was speaking so lovingly about his partner,” Gutman said.

He called the press conference “very interesting and … riveting,” and described the text exchanges as “heartbreaking on so many levels” while speaking on ABC News’ livestream.

“I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a press conference in which we’ve read text messages that are so fulsome, so robust, so apparently allegedly self-incriminating and yet, on the other hand, so touching, right?" Gutman said.

"And the terminology he used, he was trying to protect him. He kept calling him ‘my love.’ ‘My reason for doing this is to protect you,’ you know, but also asking him to delete the messages and not speak to law enforcement. So, there’s this heartbreaking duality that we’re seeing very tragically playing out," he added.

Matt Gutman slammed online for his reporting 

Gutman was slammed online for his on-air comments. One person said, "ABC demonizes Charlie, Humanizes an accused murderer. Gross."

A netizen asked, "Really ABC, this is who you let represent your brand? Matt Gutman is foul. How can anyone find a murder confession “very touching”?Does this man have a moral compass or was his human empathy sucked out before ABC put him on front of a camera?"

"What an insanely irresponsible piece of “journalism” by @mattgutmanABC

Dehumanize the victim. Humanize the assassin. I would expect nothing less from @ABC," said another person. 

An X user said, "How low can ABC go with Matt Gutman’s attempt to romanticize a cold blooded killer? It was despicable and is so par beyond the pale that I have to boycott all thing ABC and the sponsors and advertisers- enough is enough!"

A X user said he is speechless. "ABC and Matt Gutman have lost their minds. Not sure if this is a murder? Talking so sweetly about the text messages between transgender and straight out assassin, damn, ABC has gone nuts!! I’m speechless!"

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.