Michael Keaton has reacted to the death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed last week while speaking at Utah Valley University. Kirk was in the middle of answering a question about gun violence in America when he was attacked. He leaves behind a wife and two young children.
At the Investigative Reporters and Editors’ 50th anniversary gala in New York on Monday night, Keaton addressed the tragedy. He said that he strongly disagreed with many of the views of Kirk but reminded everyone that this is first and foremost a loss of family.
“Regardless of how much I disagreed with what he said, Charlie Kirk leaves behind two kids and a wife. You gotta remember that,” Michael Keaton said. “Because, in the end, shooting people will never answer anything. The irony that he was killed with a gun is unbelievable.”
Also speaking at the event was 60 Minutes journalist Scott Pelley. He warned that silencing voices through violence is a dangerous trend. He said that Kirk’s death, along with the recent killing of Minnesota politician Melissa Hortman, shows how political violence is putting free speech at risk.
Keaton’s message echoed what many others have said in recent days: that no matter how much people disagree, taking someone’s life is not the solution. On social media, many also called it painfully ironic that Kirk was killed when he was talking about gun violence itself.
Even though people are divided on Kirk’s views, Keaton’s message was clear: violence doesn’t end debates, it only creates more pain.
