PHNX Sports has fired Suns beat writer Gerald Bourguet following a series of social media posts about the death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
Kirk was shot and killed Wednesday during an event at Utah Valley University. Shortly after, Bourguet wrote on X that refusing to mourn Kirk’s death was not the same as celebrating gun violence.
“’Political differences’ are not the same thing as spewing hateful rhetoric on a daily basis,” Bourguet wrote in one post.
In another, he added, “Truly don’t care if you think it’s insensitive … too many of you are more concerned with being polite and appearing to be good people rather than showing some damn backbone and standing on principal to condemn hate.”
The posts drew sharp backlash online. PHNX Sports issued a statement that didn’t mention Bourguet by name but confirmed his dismissal. The Arizona Republic later reported that Bourguet was the one who had been let go.
“The opinions expressed by our employees do not represent the views of PHNX Sports or ALLCITY Network,” the company said. “We take matters involving violence very seriously and are committed to ensuring that ALLCITY remains a safe place for our employees and community alike. We have addressed this matter with the individual and made the decision to part ways.”
Bourguet is the second figure in the sports world this week to lose his job over posts about Kirk’s death.
The NFL’s Carolina Panthers dismissed communications coordinator Charlie Rock on Thursday, calling one of his social media posts “insensitive” in the wake of the fatal shooting.
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