Stephen Colbert Denounces Political Violence Following Charlie Kirk's Murder — Watch

The Late Show's Stephen Colbert opened Wednesday's show with a somber statement addressing the murder of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

Prefacing that the episode viewers were about to see was scripted before the news came in, Colbert acknowledged that the right-wing activist was killed at a speaking engagement in Utah earlier that day. "Our condolences go out to his family and all of his loved ones," he said.

He then went on to reflect on previous eras of political upheaval in the United States — particularly during his upbringing in the counterculture era of the 1960s.

"I'm old enough to personally remember the political violence of the 1960s, and I hope it is obvious to everyone in America that political violence does not solve any of our political differences. Political violence only leads to more political violence," he argued. "And I pray with all my heart that this is the aberrant action of a madman, and not a sign of things to come."

Stephen Colbert reacted to the killing of Charlie Kirk in a somber open for tonight's Late Show. pic.twitter.com/B6aT9hUyaW

— LateNighter (@latenightercom) September 11, 2025

Colbert was the only late-night host to address Kirk's murder on his show. Shortly after his death was confirmed Wednesday afternoon, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel offered the following sentiment across his social media channels: "Instead of the angry finger-pointing, can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human? On behalf of my family, we send love to the Kirks and to all the children, parents and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence."

Watch Colbert's solemn remarks above.