On the morning of September 10, 2025, a segment on Fox & Friends took a dark and unexpected turn during a discussion about a recent tragedy: the fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte, North Carolina light rail train. Zarutska, who had fled war-torn Ukraine in search of safety, was brutally attacked on August 22 by Decarlos Brown, a 34-year-old man with a criminal history and a diagnosis of schizophrenia, according to ABC News. The incident, which was captured on video and widely circulated online, showed Brown pulling a knife from his jacket and stabbing Zarutska three times before calmly walking away as blood pooled on the train floor.
The shocking nature of Zarutska’s murder ignited a heated conversation about violent crime, mental illness, and homelessness in America. Fox & Friends co-host Lawrence Jones commented, “A lot of them don’t want to take the programs, a lot of them don’t want to get the help that is necessary. Either you take the resources that we’re going to give you ... or you decide that you are going to be locked up in jail. That’s the way it has to be now.”
But it was Brian Kilmeade, another Fox & Friends host, who made the most controversial statement. Kilmeade interjected, “Or just give them an involuntary lethal injection or something. Just kill them.” The remark, delivered seemingly offhand, immediately sparked outrage. The suggestion that mentally ill homeless people who refuse assistance should be executed by the state was condemned across the political spectrum and on social media, with many calling for Kilmeade’s resignation.
As reported by multiple outlets, including ABC News and LADbible, Kilmeade’s words were not only widely criticized, but also compared to other recent high-profile media controversies. Notably, many pointed out the apparent disparity between Kilmeade’s continued employment and the fate of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, who was pulled from the air “indefinitely” after making a joke about Donald Trump supporters and the assassination of Charlie Kirk. “Just a few days ago, here’s Brian Kilmeade of Fox News saying homeless people should be killed. He still has his job,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Another commented, “Brian Kilmeade should definitely get s** canned for saying ‘homeless people should get involuntary lethal injection and just kill em’. WTF kinda mentality is that? This man deserves more punishment than Jimmy Kimmel saying a poor taste MAGA joke.”
The public’s reaction was swift and fierce. Advocacy groups, mental health professionals, and ordinary viewers alike condemned Kilmeade’s statement as not just insensitive, but dangerous. Some critics drew a connection—however tenuous—between the timing of Kilmeade’s comments and subsequent violence. Days after his statement, 13 people were wounded in shootings at two homeless encampments in Minneapolis, according to ABC News. While no evidence links Kilmeade’s words to these attacks, the proximity in timing prompted some social media users to question the broader impact of such rhetoric.
Under mounting pressure, Kilmeade appeared remotely on Fox & Friends Weekend on September 14 to issue a public apology. He explained that during the discussion about Zarutska’s murder, he “wrongly said they [mentally ill homeless people] should get lethal injections.” He described his comment as a “callous remark” and clarified, “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.”
Four days later, on September 18, Kilmeade reiterated his apology, calling his earlier statement “extremely callous.” Despite the apology, Fox News has not announced any plans to discipline or terminate Kilmeade. As LADbible noted, “Kilmeade has not faced any repercussions from Fox News as of September 18, 2025.” This lack of action has only fueled further debate about accountability in the media and the standards to which public figures are held.
The controversy over Kilmeade’s remarks has also reignited longstanding discussions about the treatment of mentally ill and homeless individuals in America. Co-host Lawrence Jones’s comments, advocating for forced treatment or incarceration, reflect a growing frustration among some policymakers and commentators over the perceived ineffectiveness of current social services. “Taxpayers have given billions of dollars to mental health and the homeless population. A lot of them don’t want to take the programs, a lot of them don’t want to get the help that is necessary,” Jones said during the broadcast.
Yet, critics argue that such rhetoric oversimplifies a deeply complex issue. Mental health advocates point out that many barriers—such as lack of affordable housing, limited access to healthcare, and the stigma surrounding mental illness—prevent people from seeking or receiving help. The suggestion that those who do not comply with assistance programs should face incarceration or worse is, to many, a chilling echo of past abuses in mental health policy.
The tragic murder of Iryna Zarutska has also become a flashpoint in debates about immigration, public safety, and the responsibilities of host communities. Zarutska, who escaped the violence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, sought refuge in the United States only to become the victim of a random act of violence. Her death has been mourned by both Ukrainian and American communities, and has prompted calls for increased protection for refugees and other vulnerable populations.
Meanwhile, the broader conversation about media responsibility continues. The contrasting treatment of Brian Kilmeade and Jimmy Kimmel has become a rallying point for those who believe that media organizations must apply standards consistently, regardless of political affiliation or network. “The hypocrisy is astounding! ... if the FCC can be used to silence [Kimmel] over such innocuous nonsense, yet have absolutely no problem with the Fox host calling for the genocide of the homeless ... then they have lost all credibility,” one social media user wrote, as cited by LADbible*.
As the dust settles, questions remain about the impact of inflammatory rhetoric, the obligations of public figures, and the best path forward for addressing mental illness and homelessness in America. For now, Brian Kilmeade remains on the air, but his “extremely callous” remark has left a lasting mark on the national conversation—a stark reminder of the power, and peril, of words spoken in the public square.
