Ex-ESPN host Keith Olbermann faces backlash over apparent threat toward conservative pundit
Online posts directed at Scott Jennings were deleted, as Olbermann previously targeted Charlie Kirk and Jimmy Kimmel amid a heated political moment.
Former ESPN host Keith Olbermann appeared to threaten CNN conservative commentator Scott Jennings on X in a series of posts on Monday that were later deleted, according to captured screenshots shared by Townhall columnist Dustin Grage. The posts surfaced roughly two weeks after a fatal incident at a Charlie Kirk event on the campus of Utah Valley University. In the messages, Olbermann targeted Jennings in sharply hostile terms as part of a broader online exchange involving media figures and political pundits.
The posts showed Olbermann directing vitriol at Jennings with lines such as, "You’re next motherf---er," and "But keep mugging for the camera." Jennings tagged FBI Director Kash Patel in a reply to Grage’s post, adding to the public running commentary on the exchange. Olbermann appeared to be reacting to Jennings’ post about Disney restoring Jimmy Kimmel’s ABC show after a brief hiatus triggered by controversy surrounding Kirk’s assassination remarks. Kimmel had been temporarily preempted by network executives amid the uproar, and his team later said the show would return to air.
Olbermann, a former pundit for MSNBC, has faced significant backlash in recent days for the intensity and taunting tone of his posts about Kirk and Kimmel. In one earlier thread, he wrote, "Burn in hell, Sinclair," directing a barb at the Sinclair-owned affiliates whose decision to preempt Kimmel drew criticism from late-night hosts and viewers alike. He also claimed that nothing Kimmel said about Kirk’s motives was untrue, a stance that drew admonitions from critics who argued it veered into partisan speculation in the wake of a deadly incident. Kimmel responded publicly, saying conservatives were probing for political points by tying a 22-year-old suspect to a broader ideology, even as prosecutors continued to tie the case to ideological themes.
The resignation of Olbermann’s comments comes as authorities described the suspect in the Kirk event as radicalized in recent years and holding leftist ideological leanings. FBI officials and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said the individual had a left-leaning worldview and had become more radicalized over time. Prosecutors, in recent indictments, reaffirmed those ideological threads. Reports also indicated the suspect had a romantic relationship with a transgender partner who was transitioning to female, a detail that added another layer to the case’s public scrutiny. The unfolding narrative has fed a broader national conversation about political rhetoric, media responsibility, and how social-media exchanges between public figures can influence public perception during sensitive moments.
The controversy surrounding Olbermann’s posts prompted a swift online backlash from colleagues, media observers, and viewers who urged careful restraint in political discourse. Olbermann’s posts were deleted, and there was no immediate indication of any legal action or formal censure. Still, the episode underscored ongoing tensions over how public figures engage with supporters and critics on social platforms during periods of heightened political polarization.
As conversations about media accountability continue to unfold, analysts say the incident illustrates how online discourse involving former network personalities can amplify divides in real time, complicating efforts to separate commentary from threats. Media watchdogs and policy researchers have repeatedly called for clearer boundaries and accountability when public figures comment on politically charged events, particularly those linked to violence or criminal acts. The episode also echoes a larger debate about how outlets handle rapid-fire reactions to hot-button topics, and how personalities with large audiences can influence the tone of national conversations about politics and public safety.
The Fox News Digital report on Olbermann’s exchange highlighted the rapid-fire nature of social-media narratives in contemporary politics, and the article noted that Olbermann had deleted the posts in question. The episode has added to a growing chorus of voices urging restraint and stressing that threats, even if directed at public figures, should be condemned. As investigations and legal considerations continue to unfold around the Kirk case and related political discourse, observers say it remains vital for platforms and public figures to model responsible communication.
