Stephen Colbert addressed the killing of Charlie Kirk in a last-minute speech appended to the start of Wednesday night’s episode of The Late Show.

The 61-year-old comedian took on a somber tone as he addressed his audience at home from behind his desk after the right-wing activist was fatally shot during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University earlier in the day.

He bemoaned ‘political violence’ and compared Kirk’s shooting to the political violence that roiled the US in the 1960s.

Kirk was pronounced dead at 31 after being shot in the neck by a person who reportedly fired from a nearby building.

Rather than opening with the standard Late Show introduction, the broadcast opened with Colbert addressing viewers directly after other Hollywood stars had reacted to Kirk’s death.

‘After our scripts for tonight’s show were finished this afternoon, we here at The Late Show learned that Charlie Kirk, a prominent right-wing activist was killed at a speaking engagement in Utah,’ he said. ‘Our condolences go out to his family and all of his loved ones.’

Stephen Colbert, 61, addressed the killing of Charlie Kirk in a last-minute speech appended to the start of Wednesday night’s episode of The Late Show. He bemoaned ‘political violence’ and shared his condolences with Kirk’s family

Kirk, a right-wing activist, was pronounced dead at 31 after being shot in the neck by a person who reportedly fired from a nearby building while he spoke outdoors at Utah Valley University on Wednesday; pictured in June in Davie, Florida

‘I am old enough to personally remember the political violence of the 1960s, and I hope it is obvious to everyone in America that political violence does not solve any of our political differences,’ Colbert said as he looked directly into the camera.

‘Political violence only leads to more political violence,’ he added.

Colbert went on to say he hoped that Kirk’s shooting was only an isolated tragedy.

‘I pray with all my heart that this is the abhorrent action of a mad man and not a sign of things to come,’ he said.

‘And now, ladies and gentlemen, the show that we had prepared for you,’ Colbert said with a wave of his hand as the previously taped show began.

The former Colbert Report host — who has ben a longtime critic of President Donald Trump and Republicans in general — announced in July that CBS had opted not to renew his contract when it expires in May 2026, which will also mark the end of the show after more than three decades.

Media critics have speculated that the show was canceled in an attempt to help secure government approval for the merger of CBS’ parent company Paramount Global and Skydance Media, after Trump repeatedly attacked Colbert on social media.

However, CBS has claimed it is canceling the series, which was previously hosted by David Letterman, due to financial issues.

‘After our scripts for tonight’s show were finished this afternoon, we here at The Late Show learned that Charlie Kirk, a prominent right-wing activist was killed at a speaking engagement in Utah,’ he said. ‘Our condolences go out to his family and all of his loved ones’

Colbert declared that ‘political violence does not solve any of our political differences,’ and he added,’Political violence only leads to more political violence’

‘I pray with all my heart that this is the abhorrent action of a mad man and not a sign of things to come,’ Colbert added

Kirk is pictured speaking to a large crowd at Utah Valley University shortly before he was shot on Wednesday

Colbert’s fellow late-night host, Jimmy Kimmel, also reacted to Kirk’s death on Wednesday.

He called the shooting ‘horrible and monstrous,’ on Instagram, adding, ‘On behalf of my family, we send love to the Kirks and to all the children, parents and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence.’

Although the circumstances of Kirk’s death suggested a targeted killing, no details have yet publicly emerged about the identity of the shooter, who is still on the loose.

Two people were taken into custody earlier on Wednesday as persons of interest in the shooting, but both were subsequently released.

A major manhunt by both the FBI and Utah police is currently underway.

Kirk is survived by his wife, Erika Frantzve, and their three-year-old daughter and 16-month-old son.

Kirk quickly ascended in conservative circles after co-founding the right-wing youth organization Turning Point USA.

Vice President JD Vance described Kirk as a ‘true friend’ and a ‘great family man’ in a post saluting him on X.

Colbert’s fellow late-night host, Jimmy Kimmel, also reacted to Kirk’s death on Wednesday. He called the shooting ‘horrible and monstrous,’ on Instagram, adding, ‘On behalf of my family, we send love to the Kirks and to all the children, parents and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence’; pictured September 7 in LA

Although the circumstances of Kirk’s death suggested a targeted killing, no details have yet publicly emerged about the identity of the shooter, who is still on the loose; seen in 2024 in Phoenix

President Donald Trump announced Kirk’s death on Truth Social. ‘No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie,’ Trump wrote. ‘He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us’; pictured with Kirk on December 22, 2024, in Phoenix, Ariz.

President Donald Trump went on to announce Kirk’s death on his social media site, Truth Social.

‘The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie,’ Trump wrote. ‘He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife, Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!’

Trump later addressed the nation in a somber speech delivered from the Oval Office.

‘To my great fellow Americans, I am filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk on a college campus in Utah. Charlie inspired millions and tonight, all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror,’ Trump said.

He praised Kirk as a man of faith who loved his country and advocated for it to his followers.

‘Charlie was a patriot who devoted his life to the cause of open debate and the country that he loved so much, the United States of America. He fought for liberty, democracy, justice and the American people.

‘He’s a martyr for truth and freedom and there has never been anyone who was so respected by youth,’ Trump continued.

‘Charlie was also a man of deep, deep faith, and we take comfort that he is now with God in Heaven. Our prayers are with his wife, Erika, his two young and beloved children and his family, who he loved more than anything in the world. We ask God to watch over them in this terrible hour of heartache in pain.’

Donald Trump said the ‘demonization’ of political opponents by the ‘radical left’ directly led to the murder of Kirk in an Oval Office speech on Wednesday

Trump’s speech took a darker turn as he looked toward those responsible for this ‘dark moment for America.’

‘It’s long past time for all Americans and the media to confront the fact that violence and murder are the tragic consequences of demonizing those with whom you disagree, day after day, year after year, in the most hateful and despicable way possible,’ he said, before taking the speech in a partisan direction.

‘For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals. This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today and it must stop right now,’ Trump said, before comparing Kirk’s killing to his own assassination attempt and other political shootings.

‘Radical left political violence has hurt too many innocent people and taken too many lives,’ he said, though the person who shot Trump, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was a registered Republican who had espoused antisemitic and anti-immigrant views on social media.

Trump concluded by urging Americans to take a page from Kirk’s values of ‘free speech, citizenship, the rule of law and the patriotic devotion and love of God.’

‘Charlie was the best of America and the monster who was attacking him was attacking our whole country,’ Trump added, before declaring that he administration would track down anyone responsible with the right-wing provocateur’s death.