An entertainment news outlet issued an apology after a shocking live-streamed moment in which laughter could be heard at the announcement of Charlie Kirk’s death.
But for many, the explanation and apology were not enough after viewers watching TMZ break the news of the tragic murder of Kirk could hear staffers laughing in the background of the segment as Harvey Levin and Charles Latibeaudiere spoke.
The outlet was raked over the coals on social media as disgusted viewers blasted the disrespect at the assassination of Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA.
TMZ caught celebrating the news of Charlie Kirk’s passing.
Watch it till the end.
Never forget this video. pic.twitter.com/GRNLcLlXz9
— Sovey (@sovey_X) September 10, 2025
Levin and Latibeaudiere attempted to clear things up with a video message “addressing tone deaf laughter,” but it was not well-received on X.
You are apologizing bc you got caught https://t.co/8Mg3jhDZ1G
— Sean Spicer (@seanspicer) September 11, 2025
“We were livestreaming all day during this tragedy,” Levin said.
“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,” he explained.
The producer and founder of the celebrity news website assured viewers that staffers “would not work here” if they had actually been laughing and cheering at Kirk’s death.
“We acknowledge that it was horrible timing,” Latibeaudiere said. “And for that, we are sorry.”
In a written statement on the site, TMZ apologized for the ill-timed outburst.
“As Harvey and Charles were reporting the developments in our newsroom, there were employees in another part of the building watching a car chase,” the outlet stated.
“The people watching that car chase began laughing and clapping in reaction to what they were seeing, but we want to make it clear … they were not cheering in response to the assassination,” the statement continued. “Nevertheless … watching a car chase at that moment was tone deaf, and the sounds of laughter at that crucial moment were totally out of line.
“We apologize to anyone who heard that as we were in the middle of covering such a tragic story,” TMZ concluded.
On social media, the apology did not go far enough to convince many users.
Struggling to believe that
— Melindi Scott (@melindiscott) September 11, 2025
Gaslighting so hard even the lens is hazy
— Tony Jose Matos (@TonyJMatos) September 11, 2025
I don’t believe them…. They are trying to save face now.
— AJH – Question Everything (@1_2_question) September 11, 2025
The cheers happened at the exact time that Trump announced his death. This would have been the biggest coincidence in history
— Bryan (@Savorthenow) September 11, 2025
Let me get this straight. So while the newsroom was streaming live about the assassination, you had people in your office watching GTA on YouTube and laughing and clapping?
— Adnan Belushi (@adnanbelushi) September 11, 2025
Shameful.
— Mavvie Blue (@MavvieBlue13) September 11, 2025
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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