While many Americans were devastated this week by conservative activist Charlie Kirk's brutal assassination, liberal analyst Matthew Dowd took it as an opportunity to denounce the victim as "hateful."

Those comments were immediately met with public outrage and resulted in the commentator being fired from his job. 

Dowd accused Kirk of promoting "hate speech" towards "certain groups"

According to Fox News, Dowd made the statements about Kirk during a Wednesday appearance on MSNBC's "Katy Tur Reports."

"Charlie Kirk is a divisive figure, polarizing, lightning rod, whatever term you want to use," host Katy Tur declared shortly after Kirk had been shot.

Dowd expressed agreement with that sentiment, stating, "He’s been one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures in this, who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups."

Dowd: Kirk could not say "awful words and not expect awful actions to take place"

"And I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions. And I think that is the environment we are in," Dowd continued.

"You can’t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and not expect awful actions to take place," the analyst added.

In a bizarre moment, Dowd also suggested that rather than being murdered, Kirk's death could have been an accident which stemmed from "a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration."

Fox News reported that MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler subsequently issued a statement concerning what Dowd had said on air.

"During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable," Kutler was quoted as saying.

Analyst backtracks from remarks, says there "is no place for violence in America"

"We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise," the network president insisted.

Fox News pointed out how for his part, Dowd attempted to backtrack from his earlier remarks concerning Kirk's assassination.

"On an earlier appearance on MSNBC I was asked a question on the environment we are in. I apologize for my tone and words," the liberal commentator asserted.

"Let me be clear, I in no way intended for my comments to blame Kirk for this horrendous attack. Let us all come together and condemn violence of any kind," he stated.