Fox News pauses all programming as host cries on air: ‘It’s my great dishonor’
Fox News has been forced to pause all programming as anchor Will Cain breaks down on air while confirming the death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk in Utah
Charlie Kirk passed away at 31 after being fatally shot(Image: Getty)
Fox News programming came to an abrupt stop Wednesday as news anchor Will Cain became emotional on air while confirming the deadly shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.
Kirk, 31, was gunned down during a Turning Point USA event while addressing students on stage.
Eyewitnesses reported he had been discussing the subject of mass shootings moments before a lone gunshot echoed through the venue. Fox News anchor Sandra Smith, clearly rattled, was first to break the story live on television. “We just started getting word, a couple of moments ago, that Charlie Kirk has been shot,” Smith informed viewers.
“He was speaking at Utah Valley University about trans issues when a shot rang out. We can now confirm via Jason Chaffetz, who was at the event, that shots rang out during Kirk’s remarks on transgender mass shootings,” she added.
Fox News’ Will Cain mourned Charlie Kirk’s death(Image: Fox News)
Chaffez, a former congressman and Fox contributor, recounted the terrifying moment on-air, reports the Express US.
“I can’t say that I saw blood,” he said. “But I did hear the gunshot. I was watching Charlie. He fell back and to the left.”
Kirk was rushed offstage but later died at the hospital. No suspect has been publicly identified.
Police said the investigation is ongoing.
The broadcast later switched back to The Will Cain Show, where host Cain interrupted a guest mid-sentence to announce the tragic news of Kirk’s passing.
“It’s my great dishonor to report that Charlie Kirk has died,” declared Cain. He then proceeded to read out a statement posted by President Donald Trump on Truth Social.
“No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie,” penned Trump. He referred to Kirk as “legendary.”
Cain took a moment of silence before continuing. “How do we come back from this?” he questioned.
“How do we move forward from a moment like this?”
Kirk, a father to two children, established Turning Point USA in 2012. The organization identifies itself as a student-centric conservative nonprofit.