Piers Morgan’s YouTube show descended in chaos on Monday night as a debate over the murder of Charlie Kirk turned into a shouting match, ending with Cornel West walking off the set.
The former presidential candidate and self-described Christian leftist clashed with conservative podcaster Andrew Wilson on Piers Morgan Uncensored during a discussion about whether political rhetoric contributed to Kirk’s death. The episode revealed deep divisions in America’s public discourse.
Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was shot dead at an Arizona rally last week, allegedly by a leftist radicalised online. Host Piers Morgan invited Mr West and Mr Wilson to examine the role of inflammatory language in the tragedy. The discussion quickly escalated into a heated confrontation when Mr Wilson claimed: “All leftists want to see me dead”
Mr West responded: “This brother says, ‘All leftists want to see me dead.’ I’m a leftist, I don’t want to see you dead. I’m a Christian!”
Mr Wilson replied: “You called Trump’s administration a neo-fascist movement, you lunatic!” The two began shouting over each other, their voices drowning out any chance of dialogue.
Mr West said: “Let me make the case! Will you allow me to speak, brother? Come on, man.”
He added, “You different from Charlie. You very, very different from Brother Charlie, man.”
Mr Wilson replied: “It’s the rhetoric from people like you that got that man killed, sir.”
Mr West turned to Mr Morgan and said: “Piers, why you have a brother on who’s not gonna allow nobody to speak, man? We’re just wasting time. We can’t even mourn Brother Charlie passing– I had dialogues with Brother Charlie!”
He continued: “Charlie was made in the image of a loving and mighty God! I’ve said my prayers for Sister Erika and the kids… This brother wants to trash my Christian sensibility, and look at him laughing now. It’s a joke, man. Piers, it’s not worth it.”
Mr West then stood up to leave and Mr Wilson said: “Run away, run away” before lighting a cigarette and continued smoking.
Mr West said: “This is ridiculous! He’s smoking his cigarette with his arrogant self. Come on, man.”
Morgan said: “Cornel, can you sit down? I would like you to remain part of the debate. Surely you’re not gonna walk out in a debate about dialogue?”
Neverthless Mr West removed his microphone and left the set. Morgan said: “Kind of farcical to quit a debate when we’re debating the importance of free speech and being able to listen to each other’s opinions. It seems to me completely insane.”
The episode has since gone viral, drawing mixed reactions. Some viewers criticised Mr Wilson for dominating the conversation, while others supported his confrontational approach.
Mr West later issued a statement calling the show a “circus” which failed to honour Mr Kirk’s memory.