The University of Delaware is finally responding after its communications department failed to stop a student-produced “comedy” skit show from thanking “Charlie Kirk’s Killer” in the closing credits to air.
A recent episode of The Bi-Weekly Show, a program aired on the university’s Student Television Network (STN49), included that crass line celebrating the cold-blooded murder last month of the conservative icon and founder of Turning Point USA, according to a screenshot posted Wednesday by the Delaware Republican Party.
The university was slow to respond to multiple requests for comment, but did release a statement to The Federalist Thursday afternoon asserting the Newark, Delaware, institution of higher education “unequivocally condemns the deeply offensive and insensitive language that appeared in the rolling credits of the live broadcast of a comedy program that was produced by the student-led television station.”
Following the live stream “comedy show,” a member of the station “immediately raised concerns among student peers about offensive language in the credits,” the statement claims.
“Recognizing the negative impact of that language, the group decided within hours of its original broadcast to remove the rolling credits before posting the content to their site,” the university said.
‘Please Do Not Answer Questions’
But it appears UD officials wanted to keep a lid on the controversy, even as word of the despicable shout-out spread throughout the campus. A university message to student groups obtained by The Federalist urged students not to talk to the press about the incident. Sources say the communications department hoped the problem would “go away quietly.”
“As many of you may know, the most recent biweekly episode included a comment about the recent Charlie Kirk incident in their end credits. This has brought some outside media attention that could also involve our school and our club,” the email from a member of the campus television station wrote. “If anyone from the media reaches out to you about this, please do not answer questions on behalf of the club. If this would occur contact me.”
“I know this is a difficult and unexpected situation, but we’ll get through it together as a group. Not telling you guys this to scare you but just want to make sure you are all aware of the situation. If you have any further questions don’t hesitate to text me!” the message urged.
The Delaware Republican Party blasted out the screenshot of the closing credits, and demanded an apology from the university and its comms department for allowing “violent messaging to be broadcast in one of its programs.”
“This program operates under faculty oversight, with taxpayer-funded resources, and carries the University’s stamp of approval,” Nick Miles, executive director of the Delaware Republican Party, told The Federalist. “For something like this to make it on air is both disturbing and unacceptable.”
Miles said students across the campus reached out to him.
“They came to me because they feared retaliation,” he said.
UD’s media relations department did not respond to The Federalist’s questions about whether the students involved, the station, or staff members overseeing the station’s operation would be disciplined for the disturbing message. The statement only reiterates that the university does not condone such language that “diminishes the value of human life.” It offered mealy-mouthed expressions replete with the usual DEI language.
“UD remains committed to fostering opportunities for dialogue about civility and the responsibilities that come with free expression in a diverse and inclusive community,” the statement claimed.
‘Investigate This Incident’
What do the White House and the Department of Education think about it all? Hard to say. Multiple phone and email messages generated the same response: The government is shut down; we can’t help you right now.
Following Kirk’s Sept. 10 assassination on Utah Valley University’s campus, liberal college faculty and staff across the country have been disciplined, many fired, for publicly cheering on the conservative’s killer. Clemson University recently fired two professors and another employee for “inappropriate social media content” apparently endorsing political violence. Robin Newberry, a long-time Asbestos Program Manager, reportedly mocked Kirk’s murder on Facebook — encouraging others to emulate his accused killer, as The Federalist previously reported.
“In a world full of Charlie Kirks and Brian Thompsons, be a Tyler Robinson or a Luigi Mangione,” Newberry allegedly wrote, according to a screenshot posted by the Clemson College Republicans. The post refers to Kirk’s alleged assassin and the accused killer of health insurance executive Brian Thompson, Mangione, who is charged with fatally shooting the CEO in the back.
Iowa State University financial aid advisor Caitlyn Spencer was fired after she wrote of Kirk, “This jackass got what was coming and I’m happy he’s rotting in hell,” Campus Reform reported.
Gene Truono, chairman of the Delaware Republican Party and an alumnus of the University of Delaware, said he finds the program’s dark acknowledgment “especially troubling.”
“When I was a student, there was a level of civility and respect that would never have allowed something like this to be broadcast,” he said in a statement. “The University owes its students, parents, and alumni real answers. Our state’s flagship university must take immediate action to investigate this incident, identify who allowed it, and ensure that nothing like this ever happens again. Silence and cover-ups cannot replace accountability.”