Fox News host Brian Kilmeade has issued an on-air apology after a comment he made during Fox & Friends sparked widespread criticism and calls for his firing.
During a morning segment on September 10 about homelessness and public safety, co-host Lawrence Jones argued that the country’s current approach in “just handing out free stuff” has failed. The discussion was tied to the recent killing of Iryna Zarutska, a teenage Ukrainian refugee who was stabbed to death by a homeless man while riding a bus in North Carolina.
Brian Kilmeade endorses euthanizing homeless people: “Involuntary lethal injection, or something. Just kill them.” pic.twitter.com/on5NMereZQ
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 13, 2025
Kilmeade responded, “Or involuntary lethal injection … or something. Just kill ’em.” The remark prompted agreement from his co-hosts on air but quickly went viral online, with critics calling it dehumanizing and dangerous.
[Note: This video from Fox News was included to add context to the original comment. The controversial remarks begin about 9:30 into the video. Fox News has since edited the above video just as Kilmeade was going to respond, as seen in the previous media link.]
Advocates, public officials and social media users of both sides condemned the comment, warning that it risked fueling stigma against people experiencing homelessness or mental illness. Some even called for Kilmeade’s suspension or firing.
More recently, Fox News aired a segment in which Kilmeade apologized for his remarks. Kilmeade admitted his wording was wrong and expressed regret for linking mental illness and homelessness to suggestions of violence. He did not indicate whether his statement was intended as a joke or hyperbole in its original context.
“Now, during that discussion, I wrongly said that [homeless people] should get lethal injections,” Kilmeade said in the segment. “I apologize for that extremely callous remark.”
Neither Fox News nor Kilmeade has commented on whether he will face any disciplinary action. As of this post, there have been no reports of advertiser pullouts or formal network statements beyond the on-air apology.
The controversy comes at a time when homelessness, public safety and mental health treatment are already flashpoints in American politics. The killing of Zarutska has prompted renewed debate over involuntary commitment laws, housing policy and how to balance public safety with civil liberties.
Kilmeade’s apology may dampen calls for his removal, but critics say the incident underscores the need for more responsible rhetoric from media figures with large platforms.
