Washington Post opinion columnist Karen Attiah found herself at the center of a growing controversy after posting a series of comments on social media in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s death. In particular, two posts she published on the platform Bluesky became pivotal in her dismissal, according to the newspaper. Shortly thereafter, Attiah released a detailed statement on her Substack newsletter, in which she explained that the reason for her termination was explicitly tied to her decision to voice opposition to what she described as political violence, racial hypocrisy, and a national indifference to the consequences of widespread gun ownership.
The termination letter she received from The Washington Post emphasized the specific online remarks that crossed the organization’s boundaries of acceptable conduct. In one comment, she pushed back against expectations of public grief, writing that refusing to engage in what she viewed as exaggerated and symbolic mourning for a white man who, in her eyes, had promoted violent rhetoric, could not be equated with actual violence. In another, she argued that one of the forces reinforcing America’s persistently violent environment was a cultural obligation to display performative sympathy and forgiveness toward white men who articulate hatred and divisiveness. The Post’s leadership asserted that such framing of race and gender failed to comply with its explicit policies, which strictly prohibit staff from disparaging individuals on the basis of protected characteristics such as race, ethnicity, or gender identity.
The authenticity of the letter became public when the media industry newsletter *Status* obtained and published it, after which Attiah herself confirmed its legitimacy to Business Insider. A Post spokesperson, however, declined to give any additional details, citing the organization’s consistent policy of not commenting publicly on personnel matters.
Behind the scenes, however, at least two individuals with direct knowledge of internal discussions revealed that Attiah had previously faced several private confrontations with senior management over her presence on social media. In at least one high-profile case dating back to 2020, she had to issue a public apology after mistakenly claiming on Twitter that newly passed French legislation explicitly targeted Muslim children. Furthermore, according to these insiders, when the Post offered voluntary buyouts within the past year as part of a broader restructuring, Attiah was discreetly encouraged to take advantage of the offer. She ultimately declined, choosing instead to remain on staff.
In her Substack note, she provided additional context, pointing out that she had been the sole remaining Black full-time opinion columnist at the paper, a striking reality given that the Washington metropolitan area is among the most racially diverse in the United States. She suggested that her firing should be understood within a troubling historical continuum, one that has repeatedly seen Black professionals — whether in academia, politics, corporate environments, or media organizations — systematically silenced or forced out. According to her, this ongoing diminishment of Black voices is not only a shameful recurrence but also one of deep danger to American society.
Her dismissal has fueled a significant backlash from both colleagues within the Washington Post and advocates for press freedoms more broadly. The Post Guild, which represents newsroom employees, issued a strong statement condemning what it described as the unjust firing of a fellow journalist for personal online expression. Advocacy groups beyond the newsroom echoed those concerns. Suzanne Trimel, a spokesperson for the internationally recognized nonprofit PEN America, expressed alarm at the pattern of disciplinary actions against journalists following Kirk’s shooting. Her comments cited other high-profile cases, such as MSNBC’s termination of political contributor Matthew Dowd and the suspension of Florida Politics reporter A.G. Gancarski, arguing that such developments should be a clear warning to anyone who values free speech and a robust, independent press.
The related incident involving Dowd underscores the climate of caution currently pervading newsrooms. He was dismissed after, during a live broadcast, he stated that hateful ideologies often evolve from toxic thoughts into equally toxic words and eventually into violent actions. Shortly after, Comcast executives, which include the parent company of MSNBC, circulated a company-wide directive urging staff to maintain conversations characterized by civility and mutual respect. Advocacy organizations, such as the Freedom of the Press Foundation, added their voice to the debate, with its director of advocacy, Seth Stern, saying that Attiah’s remarks were not so unusually tasteless or extreme that they justified termination under what he identified as ordinary workplace standards.
It is worth noting that the ripple effect extended beyond the sphere of journalism. For example, Nasdaq disclosed that it had dismissed an employee after discovering online statements pertaining to Kirk’s death, emphasizing its zero-tolerance approach to content that condones or trivializes violence. Delta Airlines also suspended multiple employees over their commentary on the incident, with the company’s CEO explaining that the conduct under review strayed far past the boundaries of what could be considered healthy or respectful debate.
The controversy surrounding Attiah occurred only months after The Washington Post underwent an overhaul of its opinion section, one directed by ownership under Jeff Bezos. The changes included a stated shift in editorial priorities toward themes such as individual rights and market freedom. That reorientation resulted in the departure of opinion editor David Shipley, along with several colleagues, and the subsequent appointment of Adam O’Neal as his successor in June.
Attiah’s career at The Washington Post began a decade ago in 2014, and during her tenure she played a significant role in shaping the global scope of the paper’s opinion coverage. She notably recruited Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi as a contributor and later won awards for her powerful editorial work following his assassination. Given this context, her abrupt termination has attracted heightened scrutiny within both media circles and wider societal discussion, combining questions about fairness, racial equity, free speech, and the evolving boundaries between personal expression and professional obligations.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/washington-post-fired-columnist-over-social-posts-charlie-kirk-killing-2025-9
