Stephen Colbert began Wednesday’s Late Show episode on a somber note, as he and his team made a last-minute alteration to the show’s opening upon learning of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk’s assassination earlier that day.

The 61-year-old started his most recent talk show installment with a note about Kirk’s death. The 31-year-old was shot and killed while discussing gun violence in America at an event at Utah Valley University.

“After our scripts for tonight’s show were finished this afternoon, we at the Late Show learned that Charlie Kirk, a prominent right-wing activist, was killed at a speaking engagement in Utah,” Colbert said, looking directly into the camera as he sat at his desk on set. “Our condolences go out to his family and all of his loved ones.”

Colbert then told the audience that he’s “old enough to personally remember the political violence of the 1960s,” before stressing that he hopes “that it’s obvious to everyone in America that political violence does not solve any of our political differences” on serious issues.

“Political violence only leads to more political violence,” he said. “I pray with all my heart that this is the abhorrent action of a madman, and not a sign of things to come.”

He paused briefly before continuing on with the program as previously written.

“And now, ladies and gentlemen, the show that we had prepared for you,” Colbert said, before the camera cut to a shot of his monologue in its traditional format.

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Colbert, a Donald Trump critic, also found himself at the center of recent political controversy, after CBS announced that his Late Show and the franchise itself would end in 2026. The news led many to speculate that the move was a political one aimed at sweetening a then-pending merger between parent company Paramount and Skydance — a deal that the companies needed the FCC to approve.

Kirk’s death sent shockwaves through social and political spheres, with many conservatives mourning the death of the commentator and TV personality, including Fox News host Megyn Kelly, who fought back tears on air upon covering news that Kirk had died.

President Trump also mourned Kirk, writing on Truth Social that his longtime supporter was “loved and admired by ALL.”

Trump even announced Thursday morning at the top of a speech at the Pentagon commemorating the victims of 9/11 that he felt so strongly about Kirk’s impact that he would award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom at a future, undisclosed date.

Others, however, were more critical of Kirk in the aftermath of his death, with many social media users pointing out the irony that he was killed by gunfire not only as he discussed gun violence in the country, but also for resurfaced comments he made in a 2023 interview.

“It’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights,” Kirk said at the time.

Elsewhere, MSNBC political analyst Matthew Dowd was reportedly fired by the network for his assessment of the political climate surrounding Kirk’s assassination.

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“He’s been one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures, in this, who’s constantly sort of pushing this hate speech aimed at certain groups. I always go back to hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions,” Dowd said on the air after the shooting.

He later apologized via BlueSky, where her wrote, “My thoughts & prayers are w/ the family and friends of Charlie Kirk.”