BBC forced to issue apology over 'distasteful' coverage of Charlie Kirk death

BBC News have issued an apology after making a report on the killing of Charlie Kirk. News at Ten introduced a package which covered the political reaction to the activist's death on September 12, 2025, but had an error in it.

Now, three months after the mistake was aired, the BBC have finally acknowledged it. A statement posted to the broadcaster's website read: "In an introduction to a package on political reaction to Charlie Kirk's killing we mistakenly said there had been 'calls for retribution from senior Republicans and Democrats alike'. To be clear any evidence of this should have been in the package and we were wrong to include this line." At the time, the corporation also faced backlash from viewers after "distasteful" coverage of Kirk's assassination.

The conservative commentator was shot dead on September 10 while speaking at a university campus in Utah. He was just 31 and left behind his wife, Erika, and young children.

Live on the BBC's rolling coverage, Democratic strategist Joi Chaney said the right-wing commentator "wasn't admired and loved by all".

She appeared to laugh on-air, saying: "I've never shared a Trump post in my life. I will contemplate sharing this one. But what I will say with a caveat. He wasn't admired and loved by all, so that's an exaggeration."

Viewers were fuming on X, with one writing: "Shame on you. I think that millions around the world disagree with your take. He was loved, celebrated, educated, gifted. Charlie is dead. Don't celebrate that. Don't laugh at that."

Someone else added: "If individuals like this are given the chance to speak on national television, this is what will happen. Her choice of words and tone suggests she's glad the man is gone. Such a weak and heartless person."

And a third said: "Couldn't believe it when I heard this on the BBC. Why did they even have this Democrat, Joi Chaney, on the programme? She was laughing at the death of Charlie Kirk. Pure evil."