'Totally out of line': TMZ apologizes for newsroom laughter heard during Kirk killing

TMZ issued an apology on Thursday, Sept. 11, after staff erupted in "tone deaf" laughter during live stream coverage of the killing of American conservative political activist Charlie Kirk.

The apology came less than 24 hours after an unidentified shooter opened fire at a college university killing Kirk, a media personality and author.

A political ally of President Donald Trump, Kirk was fatally shot speaking at an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, Sept. 10.

"We apologize to anyone who heard that as we were in the middle of covering such a tragic story," TMZ posted in a story online Thursday morning, calling its employee's actions "totally out of line."

The laughter overheard during the coverage was reportedly from "employees in another part of the building watching a car chase," according to the outlet.

Why were TMZ employees laughing?

The people watching the reported car chase − which TMZ did not elaborate on − "began laughing and clapping in reaction to what they were seeing, but we want to make it clear ... they were not cheering in response to the assassination."

"Nevertheless," the outlet wrote, "watching a car chase at that moment was tone deaf, and the sounds of laughter at that crucial moment were totally out of line."

What happened to Charlie Kirk?

As of the morning of Sept. 11, authorities continued to hunt for the suspected shooter, but had recovered a firearm believed to have been used to fire the single fatal shot.

Although the suspect has not been publicly identified, authorities said in an update they recovered a high-powered rifle in nearby woods they believe was used in the shooting and learned additional details about a reported suspect from video being analyzed.

In the hours after the shooting, authorities detained two people, including one interrogated by law enforcement. Both were subsequently released.

Kirk co-founded the organization Turning Point USA in 2012.

This story has been updated to correct a typo.

Contributing: Melina Khan, Melissa Galbraith, Will Carless Thao Nguyen, Josh Meyer and Jeanine Santucci

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund