An NBA reporter covering the Phoenix Suns was fired this week after posting a string of inflammatory comments about the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
Gerald Bourguet, a Suns beat writer for PHNX Sports, set off a firestorm online Wednesday after publishing multiple posts on X defending his refusal to mourn Kirk, who was gunned down during a student event at Utah Valley University.
“‘Political differences’ are not the same thing as spewing hateful rhetoric on a daily basis, and refusing to mourn a life devoted to that cause is not the same thing as celebrating gun violence,” Bourguet wrote. In follow-up posts, he compared reactions to Kirk’s killing with school shootings, deportations, and violence in Gaza, before declaring he had “no respect” for Kirk and “truly didn’t care” if critics found his response insensitive.
The backlash was swift. PHNX Sports issued a statement Thursday announcing they had parted ways with an employee over the remarks, without naming Bourguet directly. The Arizona Republic confirmed he was the one fired.
The opinions expressed by our employees do not represent the views of PHNX or ALLCITY Network. We take matters involving violence very seriously and are committed to ensuring that ALLCITY remains a safe place for our employees and community alike. We have addressed this matter…
— PHNX Sports (@PHNX_Sports) September 11, 2025
“The opinions expressed by our employees do not represent the views of PHNX or ALLCITY Network,” the company said. “We take matters involving violence very seriously and are committed to ensuring that ALLCITY remains a safe place for our employees and community alike. We have addressed this matter with the individual and made the decision to part ways.”
Bourguet’s ouster marks the second firing in the sports world tied to comments about Kirk’s assassination. On Thursday, the NFL’s Carolina Panthers fired Charlie Rock, a communications staffer, for what the team called an “insensitive social media post” about Kirk’s killing.
“The views expressed by our employees are their own and do not represent those of the Carolina Panthers,” the team said in its statement. “We do not condone violence of any kind.”
The moves highlight a growing wave of accountability for public figures who mocked Kirk’s assassination online, even as sports teams and athletes paid their respects. On Wednesday night, the New York Yankees honored Kirk with a moment of silence before their game against the Detroit Tigers.
Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart also condemned the assassination, writing that Kirk’s killing was “disgusting and sad.”
Kirk, 31, founder of Turning Point USA and a father of two, was assassinated by a rooftop gunman while addressing students in Orem, Utah — a political killing that has shaken the nation.
