The celebrity gossip outlet TMZ has been caught in the middle of a firestorm after employees were heard laughing during the announcement of Charlie Kirk’s tragic assassination. The 31-year-old conservative leader and founder of Turning Point USA was gunned down in broad daylight—a brutal act that left his family, followers, and the broader conservative movement reeling in grief. But instead of treating the moment with the somber respect it deserved, TMZ appeared to turn it into a punchline.

During a live broadcast Wednesday, as co-hosts Harvey Levin and Charles Latibeaudiere broke the news of Kirk’s untimely death, laughter could be heard off-camera—barely 30 seconds before the official announcement. Viewers immediately noticed the disturbing background noise, interpreting it as mockery of a man who devoted his life to conservative values and speaking truth to power.

Listen to this video of @TMZ announcing the death of Charlie Kirk. You can audibly hear the staff cheering as the receive the news that Kirk has died. It is seconds before it is relayed to the on air host. Disgusting. pic.twitter.com/8b8BJVyD2r

— Tim Sharp 🍊 🍊 🇺🇸 (@realtimsharp) September 10, 2025

“During today’s TMZ livestream, employees were heard cheering, clapping, and celebrating just 30 seconds before announcing Charlie Kirk’s death,” one outraged viewer wrote on X. “They laughed and applauded the cold-blooded murder of a husband and father on a public broadcast, like it was some kind of sick joke, before handing it off to Harvey Levin.”

Levin, who maintained a stoic expression throughout the segment, later attempted to defuse the controversy. In a hastily recorded apology video, he explained that the laughter was unrelated to the report of Kirk’s death. According to Levin, staffers in the backroom were watching a car chase and reacted to that—not the assassination. “We were livestreaming all day during this tragedy,” Levin stated. “When we were reporting the assassination of Charlie Kirk, there were some people in the back room, away from our news desk here, who were watching a car chase.”

Latibeaudiere added, “We acknowledge that it was horrible timing. And for that, we are sorry. We assure you, the laughter was not about that.”

Addressing tone deaf laughter pic.twitter.com/7lOvG7z3H4

— TMZ (@TMZ) September 11, 2025

TMZ followed up with a written explanation, calling the car chase viewing “tone deaf” and stating that the individuals involved “would not work here” if they had found the news of Kirk’s death humorous. Still, many remain skeptical.

“POV: You’re being lied to,” one user commented, referencing the apology video. Another slammed the excuse as insulting, writing, “Yeah, the whole world is watching this assassination, but your staff is focused on some random car chase that no one can find… we’re not stupid, Harvey.”

Charlie Kirk, an outspoken defender of American values, Christianity, and traditional family structures, was far more than a political commentator. He was a father, a husband, and a tireless advocate for the next generation of American conservatives. His death, believed to be a politically motivated attack, should be mourned and treated with dignity—especially by media outlets with influence.

Instead, TMZ’s reaction—whether intentional or not—was a slap in the face to his grieving family and the millions of patriots he inspired.