Fox’s Brian Kilmeade apologizes for saying the mentally ill and homeless should be 'just killed'

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Fox News host Brian Kilmeade has issued an apology after igniting public outrage with a controversial on-air remark suggesting that mentally ill and homeless individuals should be given lethal injections.

The shocking comment came during a segment discussing the tragic murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska in North Carolina. Co-hosts Lawrence Jones and Ainsley Earhardt appeared unfazed at the time, offering no immediate response to Kilmeade’s statement.

Brian Kilmeade apologizes after his 'extremely callous' comment

After facing widespread backlash, Brian Kilmeade addressed the controversy on the Sunday, September 14 episode of 'Fox & Friends', calling his comment “extremely callous.”

He explained, “We were discussing the murder of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina, and how to stop these kinds of attacks by homeless, mentally ill assailants, including institutionalizing or jailing such people so they cannot attack again.”

Kilmeade added, "Now, during that discussion, I wrongly said they should get lethal injections. I apologize for that extremely callous remark."

He declared, "I am obviously aware that not all mentally ill, homeless people act as the perpetrator did in North Carolina and that so many homeless people deserve our empathy and compassion."

What did Brian Kilmeade say about homeless and mentally ill people?

Brian Kilmeade made the controversial comment during a live 'Fox & Friends' segment on Wednesday, when the panel was discussing the fatal stabbing of Iryna Zarutska on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina, for which Decarlos Brown, a homeless individual with a lengthy criminal history and known mental health issues, was charged with first-degree murder.

During the segment, Jones proposed that individuals refusing mental health and homelessness assistance programs should be institutionalized. Kilmeade escalated the conversation, shockingly adding, “Or involuntary lethal injection or something, just kill them.” 

Co-host Earhardt offered only a lukewarm response at the time of the comment, saying, “Yeah, Brian, why did it have to get to this point?” without directly addressing his alarming suggestion.

Kilmeade went on to blame city leadership for rising homelessness, stating that areas with large homeless populations continue to elect the wrong officials. He urged North Carolina voters to “wake up.”

“You can't keep putting these people in power. They woke up in Los Angeles, they got a stronger DA. They woke up, and they got rid of Chesa Boudin in San Francisco. Hopefully, they will get rid of this terrible guy, Alvin Bragg, in New York," he said.

Internet calls Brian Kilmeade's public apology 'performative'

Despite Brian Kilmeade’s public apology for his controversial remarks, many internet users quickly took to social media to express their outrage. 

One said, "He should be fired," and another expressed, "An apology doesn’t change the deep rooted mindset in this man. His apology is to keep his job, and nothing more. It’s unacceptable and he’s not the only one. Kilmeade and Watters stoke the flames at Fox every single day with their relentless hatful rhetoric. Fox should fire both men, but they won’t, because it’s all about their ratings."

A person condemned Kilmeade's remark, writing, "That was really weak and insincere," while someone else dubbed it "performative."

"Not an apology and he should lose his job," wrote one more, with another saying, "It’s not a apology. It’s a go say what the attorneys told you to say."

"He should be fired. It’s just absolutely disgusting. You can’t just say this and apologize like it never happened. We need accountability with the press," read one more tweet. 

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