Charlie Kirk posts sparked ‘vicious’ messages, ex-ESPN host says

Former ESPN hosta Samantha Ponder opened the “vicious” messages she acquired on social media after she mourn for his homicide for the lack of Charlie Kirk.

Ponder appeared on Fox Information Channel’s “Saturday in America” And reminded of Kayleigh Mcenany that she granted a video from Kirk and his household on social media and thought nothing about it.

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The then ESPN reporter Samantha Ponder seems to be her husband, Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Christian Ponder (not depicted) within the coaching camp in Blakeslee Fields, July 27, 2025. (Bruce Kluckhohn/USA At the moment Sports activities)

“The unusual factor is that I did not actually say a lot. I posted a video of his household once more simply because I believed it was so relatible to see as a result of he’s a father. You overlook if you watch folks on TV, typically that is only a father who’s a husband and has these little youngsters,” she mentioned. “So I posted a video of their household on trip once more and I instantly misplaced 1000’s of followers – and what does it matter? This isn’t about me.

“Nevertheless it was extra about seeing what is occurring in our nation now and I simply bought merciless messages that everybody who has labored in TV will get on a regular basis. I’m used to it. Nevertheless it was a response to one thing that I believed we have been all – man, it’s unhappy if somebody was killed. I believed that was simply one thing that the large viewers may agree.”

Ponder was frightened about what folks see on completely different sides of social media, as a result of the algorithm of each individual is completely different. She contrasted what she noticed about Kirk and his household versus the messages she acquired.

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The then ESPN reporter Samantha Ponder current in the course of the first half of the BCS championship sport 2013 between Notre Dame Combating Irish and the Alabama Crimson Tide in Solar Life Stadium on January 7, 2013. (Matthew Emmons/USA At the moment Sports activities)

“I feel it mentioned loads about the place we’re as a rustic, however I additionally assume it says loads concerning the algorithms we’re coping with,” she mentioned. “I noticed so many individuals ship me a message and say:” He was a racist. He was a bigot. “So I believed:” I did not know that about him.

“I hardly blame the individuals who really feel so felt so as a result of they’re being lied. They aren’t cheated. They aren’t and watch a protracted debate with Charlie Kirk. They see what their algorithm provides them. I had individuals who say,” I did not see anybody mourning his demise. ” And I feel, I see medical doctors, nurses, lecturers, moms who laughed at his demise, his homicide all of us noticed.

“These folks did not see all of it. In order that tells us that we see two completely different America and far of it’s due to the social media -algorithm on which we’re all simply chronically on-line addicted, which is an actual downside.”

Ponder was one of many sports activities figures who statements concerning the homicide of Kirk.

Charlie Kirk, founding father of Turning Level USA speaks in the course of the Flip Level Motion Convention, July 15, 2023, in West Palm Seaside, Florida. (AP Photograph/Lynne Sladky, File)

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The 31-year-old was shot and killed at an occasion at Utah Valley College. Tyler Robinson was arrested within the demise of Kirk.

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