An offhand comment made by Fox News personality Brian Kilmeade about using “involuntary lethal injection” on mentally ill homeless people set off a wave of outrage on Saturday morning, and led to calls for him to be fired later that same day.
Conservative attorney and anti-Trump activist George Conway responded to Kilmeade's Fox segment, during which Kilmeade suggested that we "just kill them," saying, "I have no words for this."
But former prosecutor Elizabeth de la Vega wasn't at a loss for words. Responding to Conway, she said, "I have a few. Just fire him, @FoxNews. Now. Today."
In a separate post, the analyst wrote, "Let's not even hold back here. Brian Kilmeade should be fired. NOW."
Former presidential speechwriter Jon Lovett said, "I know we’re not easily shocked but I am surprised to see Kilmeade spitball about euthanizing homeless people."
"Other two on the couch don’t even seem fazed," he added. "Any other undesirables you’d add to the list, as long as we’re brainstorming?"
"This is a new low" for Fox News, declared ex-GOP lawmaker Adam Kinzinger in a Saturday video. "What has happened in this country?"
Kinzinger says if Fox News doesn't fire Kilmeade, the news outlet has no right to complain about anything anybody says.
Lauren Windsor wrote, "Fire Brian Kilmeade, @FoxNews!"
On Sunday, Kilmeade apologized for his remarks.
"In the morning, we were discussing the murder of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina and how to stop these kinds of attacks by homeless, mentally ill assailants, including institutionalizing or jailing such people so they cannot attack again. Now during that discussion, I wrongly said they should get lethal injections. I apologize for that extremely callous remark," he said. "I am obviously aware that not all mentally ill, homeless people act as the perpetrator did in North Carolina and that so many homeless people deserve our empathy and compassion.”
