The former CNBC and InvestmentNews editor Jim Pavia posted Tuesday on LinkedIn in an attempt to clarify the nature and context of a series of controversial statements that appeared in screenshots made public late last week by close supporters of the late Charlie Kirk and President Donald Trump on multiple social media platforms.
The screenshots appeared to show Pavia mocking Kirk’s death by asking “how Charlie Kirk feels about guns now?” But in the LinkedIn post, Pavia said he wrote this message “BEFORE I learned that he had been killed.”
“My comment was meant to highlight the irony that a strong gun activist, who had once said that ‘gun deaths every single year are worth it to protect our Second Amendment rights,’ had been shot,” Pavia wrote.
Pavia also said the comments were made in a "personal Facebook chat," rather than in an open public forum, as some of his critics have suggested.
“In that heated chat, I explained that my remark was about irony, not humor and certainly not celebration,” Pavia said. “Some may take exception to my words, but I was not dancing on his grave or rejoicing in his death. … I NEVER said that I was happy he was killed because I was not. His death is tragic, and I do not celebrate it in any way.
“Unfortunately, someone chose to share a selective screenshot on Twitter that excluded my clarifications,” Pavia continued. “That editing distorted my words and left out the parts where I explained I was NOT celebrating Kirk’s death.”
Pavia wrote that he regrets a separate comment made about Trump that also appeared in the screenshots: “now, on to the orange stain!” Some critics had interpreted the statement as an endorsement of violence against the president.
“It was ill-considered and does not reflect the standard I hold myself to,” Pavia wrote. “While I firmly believe history will judge his presidency critically, I want to be absolutely clear: I have never wished him harm, nor do I celebrate violence against anyone.”
Pavia also disputed statements made by MarketCounsel regarding his former affiliation — or lack thereof — with the advisor consulting firm.
“I no longer work at CNBC,” Pavia said. “I left CNBC on May 15 to start a role at MarketCounsel, as reported in Talking Biz on April 23 and on April 30 in Wealth Management. It is false to say that I ‘never worked a day at MarketCounsel.’ After 2–3 weeks of employment with MarketCounsel, both MarketCounsel and I agreed it was just not the right fit. I received a single paycheck from the firm on June 27. Today, I am officially retired from journalism.”
MarketCounsel maintains its position that Pavia was considered for a role at the company but never formally worked as an employee.
Widespread Fallout
Employers across industries have fired workers for their social media comments on Kirk's killing, including Nasdaq, the Carolina Panthers and the law firm Perkins Coie, according to Business Insider. Office Depot fired an employee who refused to print a poster promoting a vigil for Kirk, the site reported.
On Wednesday, ABC suspended "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" indefinitely over the late-night host's comments on Kirk's death.
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