Shocking vitriol erupted online as former ESPN host Samantha Ponder faced a wave of harsh criticism for expressing grief over the assassination of Charlie Kirk, as Breitbart reports.

In a recent Fox News interview, Ponder detailed the intense backlash and “vicious” messages she received after posting about Kirk’s family following his tragic death at a Utah event.

Ponder, who previously worked as a host for ESPN, took to social media to mourn the loss of Kirk, a prominent conservative figure.

Unexpected fury over family video

Kirk, aged 31, was fatally shot on Sept. 10 while speaking at a Turning Point USA event held at Utah Valley University.

He leaves behind his wife, Erika, and their two young children, a personal tragedy that Ponder sought to highlight in her online post.

In her social media post, Ponder shared a relatable video of Kirk’s family enjoying a vacation together.

Social media backlash shocks

She described her intent as simple, saying, “The strange thing is I didn’t really say much. I reposted a video of his family just because I thought it was so relatable to see because he’s a dad.”

Ponder continued, “You forget when you watch people on TV sometimes that this is just a dad who is a husband and has these little kids.”

Almost immediately after sharing the video, Ponder faced a severe reaction, losing thousands of followers in a short span.

Reflecting on divided national discourse

She emphasized the insignificance of this loss, stating, “So, I reposted a video of their family on vacation, and I immediately lost thousands of followers -- and who cares? This is not about me.”

However, the flood of hostile messages from strangers struck her as unusually harsh for such an innocuous post.

Ponder noted that while she is accustomed to criticism from her time in television, this response felt different.

Algorithms and outrage in digital age

She explained, “But it was more about seeing what’s going on in our country right now, and I got just vicious messages, which any of us who have worked in TV get all the time.”

During her discussion with Kayleigh McEnany on Fox News over the weekend, Ponder pointed out that social media algorithms often amplify divisive narratives.

Despite official condemnation from Democratic leadership, celebratory reactions from some online users in the hours after Kirk’s death highlighted how these platforms can fuel outrage and deepen national divides.