Washington Post opinion columnist Karen Attiah confirmed on Monday, 15 September, that she had been dismissed from the newspaper following a series of controversial social media posts about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The backlash centred on a Bluesky post in which she wrote that refusing to engage in “performative mourning” for a white man who “espoused violence” was not the same as endorsing violence. The remark, shared shortly after Kirk’s 10 September killing at Utah Valley University, drew sharp criticism from conservatives and some colleagues who deemed it insensitive and divisive. The Washington Post declined to comment on the decision, while the Washington Post Guild condemned the firing as wrongful.
Karen Attiah’s Bluesky post that triggered the controversy
The controversy centred on a post where Attiah wrote: “Refusing to tear my clothes and smear ashes on my face in performative mourning for a white man that espoused violence is… not the same as violence.” Shared shortly after Kirk’s assassination, the remark drew strong criticism from conservatives and some colleagues who viewed it as insensitive and divisive.Critics argued that Attiah’s refusal to participate in public mourning was tantamount to excusing or minimising the killing, accusing her of fostering polarisation and undermining journalistic ethics. Some labelled her comments “gross misconduct” and said they risked emboldening hate speech. The Washington Post cited concerns for colleagues’ safety, stating her posts had crossed from personal opinion into threatening workplace standards.Backlash also came from journalists and media critics who said her framing tied social justice rhetoric too closely to violent acts. Additional criticism followed when Attiah cited a disputed Kirk quote about Black women’s intelligence, later clarified as referring to specific political figures rather than an entire group.Attiah defended her stance, saying her intent was to challenge the “ritualised” nature of American grief, particularly when extended to figures she believed promoted harmful ideologies. She described her firing as part of a broader trend of silencing Black voices in media and public life.
Karen Attiah: Career and controversy
Attiah joined The Washington Post in 2014 and later became Global Opinions editor, where she helped recruit international contributors, including Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Supporters credit her with amplifying under-represented perspectives, while critics argue her work often blurred the line between activism and commentary. Her writing has addressed issues of race, gender, democracy, and press freedom.She received professional recognition after Khashoggi’s murder in 2018, speaking publicly about press freedom and accountability. She was awarded Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists and shared a George Polk Award. However, she has also drawn criticism for social media posts considered inflammatory, as seen in her remarks on Kirk.Attiah is often described as aligned with progressive and social justice ideals, emphasising racial and gender equality, democracy, and stronger gun control. Following her dismissal, she claimed the decision reflected shifting priorities in journalism and a purge of Black voices from major institutions. Critics, however, see her firing as a direct response to her controversial statements rather than broader systemic bias.
