During a press conference Tuesday, Utah County Attorney Jeffrey Gray read aloud text messages exchanged between Robinson and his live-in romantic partner and roommate, Lance Twiggs (who is transgender and transitioning to identify as a woman). In the texts, sent immediately after the shooting, Robinson confessed to the crime, described hiding his rifle, and expressed affection toward Twiggs, repeatedly calling him "my love" and saying things like, "I want to protect you, my love." Robinson also wrote, "To be honest I had hoped to keep this secret till I died of old age."
The messages provided prosecutors with what they called a "disturbing" and detailed account of the planning and aftermath of the assassination.
ABC News chief national correspondent Matt Gutman, who was reporting live from the scene, commented on these texts. Gutman described the exchange as offering "a very intimate portrait into this relationship between the suspect’s roommate and the suspect himself," highlighting the "duality" of Robinson as a high-achieving student capable of "cold-blooded" violence yet speaking "so lovingly" about his partner. He specifically called the messages "very touching in a way that I think many of us didn’t expect," adding that it was "heartbreaking" and unlike any other alleged murder case with such "specific text messages."
Gutman emphasized the contrast between the "brutal" murder of Kirk in front of thousands and the personal tone of the texts, but critics argued his wording humanized the suspect and romanticized the relationship in a way that minimized the victim's death.
The remarks aired on ABC News and quickly went viral on social media, sparking widespread backlash.
On Wednesday, Gutman issued a public apology via a statement on X (formerly Twitter), clarifying his intent and expressing regret. In the post, he wrote:2. I deeply regret that my words did not make that clear.
— Matt Gutman (@mattgutmanABC) September 17, 2025
But let there be zero doubt here: I unequivocally condemn this horrific crime and the pain it caused Charlie Kirk's family, those who were forced to witness it at UVU, and the millions of people he inspired.
Gutman reiterated his condemnation of the violence multiple times in the statement, emphasizing Kirk's contributions to public discourse. As of September 17, 2025, ABC News had not issued a formal response or disciplinary action against Gutman, though the network has faced similar scrutiny in the past—Gutman was suspended in 2020 for inaccurate on-air comments following Kobe Bryant's death. The apology drew mixed reactions: some accepted it as a clarification of the "duality" he intended to highlight, while others dismissed it as insufficient, continuing to demand accountability.