Who is Karen Attiah? Washington Post Columnist Fired After Remarks on Charlie Kirk’s Assassination

Washington Post opinion columnist Karen Attiah confirmed that she was fired from the newspaper. Her dismissal came after a storm of criticism over her social media posts about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead on September 10 at Utah Valley University.

The Post That Sparked the Backlash

The controversy began when Attiah wrote on Bluesky:
“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.”

The post was published shortly after Kirk’s death and was quickly condemned. Many conservatives and even some colleagues called it insensitive and divisive. Critics accused her of minimizing the killing and argued her words could embolden hate speech.

The Washington Post did not issue a detailed statement but noted that her comments raised safety concerns and crossed professional boundaries.

Wider Reaction and Criticism

Media critics said her framing connected social justice rhetoric with violent acts, sparking further debate. Additional backlash followed when Attiah referenced a disputed Kirk remark about Black women’s intelligence. That quote was later clarified as directed at political figures, not at Black women in general.

Attiah defended herself, saying her intent was to challenge ritualized grief in America, especially when it concerned public figures who, in her view, promoted harmful ideologies. She described her dismissal as part of a pattern where Black voices are being silenced in media.

Karen Attiah’s Career and Recognition

Karen Attiah joined The Washington Post in 2014 and became Global Opinions editor. She was known for amplifying international voices, including the late Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. After his murder in 2018, Attiah became a leading voice on press freedom and was awarded Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists. She also shared a George Polk Award.

Her career has often blended commentary with activism, focusing on race, gender, democracy, and human rights. Supporters credit her with broadening the paper’s global perspective, while critics argue her social media posts sometimes crossed ethical lines.

What’s Next for Karen Attiah?

After her firing, Attiah said the move reflected “shifting priorities in journalism” and warned it was part of a larger effort to silence progressive voices in U.S. media. However, her critics maintain that her dismissal was a direct result of controversial remarks about Charlie Kirk’s assassination rather than institutional bias.