Laura Loomer Slams TMZ Over Charlie Kirk Livestream Protection

The stunning assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk throughout a speech at Utah Valley College shook the world, nevertheless it was TMZ’s protection of the tragedy that lit up social media with outrage.

What ought to have been a respectful livestream reporting Kirk’s loss of life as a substitute become a scandal after viewers heard laughter and clapping within the background.

Many accused TMZ workers of mocking Kirk’s loss of life, forcing the outlet to challenge a public apology and make clear what actually occurred.

Among the many loudest voices calling out TMZ was conservative firebrand Laura Loomer, who shared the clip on X and demanded accountability.

Loomer claimed that the information outlet’s staffers “cheered 30 seconds earlier than” Charlie Kirk’s loss of life was confirmed on-air, calling the habits “disgusting” and “shameful.”

She pointed the finger straight at Harvey Levin, who was main the published, insisting he ought to condemn the incident.

“They have been blissful to listen to the information of Charlie Kirk’s loss of life and could be heard clapping and cheering earlier than passing the information,” she wrote, including that she clipped the footage “earlier than they attempt to delete it.”

Loomer reminded followers that Kirk was not solely a public determine but in addition “a husband and a father” who was “murdered in chilly blood,” making the second much more offensive.

Her phrases and the clip rapidly went viral, sparking a storm of anger towards the publication.

With stress constructing, TMZ launched an announcement on its web site and addressed the controversy head-on.

The outlet defined that the noise had nothing to do with Charlie Kirk’s loss of life, however as a substitute got here from workers in one other a part of the constructing watching a automobile chase.

“The folks watching that automobile chase started laughing and clapping in response to what they have been seeing,” TMZ wrote, including, “however we need to make it clear they weren’t cheering in response to the assassination.”

Even so, the location admitted that the laughter was wrongly timed and “completely out of line.”

They went on to apologize to anybody who heard the background noise whereas Levin and Charles Latibeaudiere have been reporting the tragic story, acknowledging the harm and confusion it brought on.

“Watching a automobile chase at that second was tone-deaf,” the assertion learn, because the outlet promised to do higher.

Levin and Latibeaudiere additionally spoke on to viewers in a follow-up video, each making it clear they understood why the backlash was so intense.

Levin stated that if anybody had actually been cheering over Kirk’s loss of life, “they wouldn’t have been working at TMZ,” stressing that the outlet took the matter significantly.

He revealed that he really “walked off-camera” throughout the livestream to verify what was taking place within the workplace after listening to the noise himself.

Levin admitted the timing was “inappropriate” and confirmed that viewers might see his response by rewatching the complete stream.

“We acknowledge that it was horrible timing, and for that we’re sorry,” he stated.

Each males admitted that whereas the laughter wasn’t about Kirk’s loss of life, it nonetheless created a notion that was deeply disrespectful.

Shortly after the duo tendered their apology, followers took to social media to share their ideas.

On X, many customers slammed Levin and Latibeaudiere, noting that their clarification was false.

“Don’t consider this for a second. This occurred on the actual second Trump confirmed that Charlie had handed away,” one individual wrote.

One other fan shared the identical sentiments, revealing that it wasn’t a coincidence that the cheering got here precisely when Trump introduced Charlie Kirk’s demise.

Some followers shared that the duo was mendacity, as there was no automobile chase happening in California.

“You’d higher present the automobile chase on video or the information as a result of no person believes you proper now,” one fan shared.

Others threatened to unfollow TMZ, calling them “despicable” and “vile.”