A top editor at the Washington Post says she was fired for calling out Charlie Kirk in the wake of his assassination.
Karen Attiah, a columnist and opinion editor, said she is the latest victim of cancel culture inside the newsroom.
Attiah’s Claims
On X, Attiah announced, “Some news: I’ve been fired from the Washington Post.”
She posted a photo burning a copy of the paper.
She vowed that “my work will continue anyway.”
Attiah wrote in her Substack that she was terminated last week.
She said the reason was her commentary on “political violence, racial double standards, and America’s apathy toward guns.”
She called the paper’s accusations against her “false” and “a hasty overreach.”
Attiah referenced past social media posts from Kirk in her criticism.
She accused him of tolerating “a certain amount of violence” to protect the Second Amendment.
She also claimed “white America” will not do what is needed to curb gun violence.
One of her most controversial posts misquoted Kirk.
She claimed Kirk said Black women lacked “brain processing power.”
Kirk’s Real Words
In reality, Kirk criticized affirmative action beneficiaries like Joy Reid and Michelle Obama.
Kirk said those figures “had to steal a white person’s slot” to succeed.
He argued they admitted affirmative action helped them, which he said proved his point.
“Black women do not have brain processing power to be taken seriously. You have to go steal a white person’s slot.” pic.twitter.com/j6PKQec2gn
— Elizabeth (@alluring_nyc) September 11, 2025
Attiah did not include this context in her post.
Washington Post’s Response
The Washington Post accused Attiah of “gross misconduct.”
Executives said her online activity endangered the safety of colleagues.
“Your postings on Bluesky (which clearly identifies you as a Post Columnist) about white men in response to the killing of Charlie Kirk do not comply with our policy”
Last year, owner Jeff Bezos has pressed the Post to hire more conservative writers.
He reportedly blocked an editorial endorsement of Kamala Harris in 2024.
That decision caused several liberal editors to resign.
Liberals React
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon accused conservatives of hypocrisy.
He said the right denounces cancel culture but cancels critics of Kirk.
“The hypocrisy on the right about free speech is off the charts,” Lemon said.
