Michael Keaton sparks outrage with controversial Charlie Kirk assassination comments

Michael Keaton is feeling the heat after making a controversial remark about Charlie Kirk's assassination.

The MAGA ally and influencer was shot dead at the age of 31 last Wednesday, September 10, while speaking publicly at Utah Valley University in a campus debate.

Tyler Robinson, from Utah, has since been charged with seven counts in connection with the assassination, where prosecutors have already indicated seeking the death penalty if the 22-year-old is convicted.

Following Kirk's death, a few people have landed in hot water for their comments. Dwayne Johnson's daughter, Ava Raine, was slammed for reposting a message that people believed to subtly hint at Kirk, while UK punk band Bob Vylan didn't mince their words when they called Kirk outright a 'piece of s***.'

MSNBC analyst Matthew Dowd also lost his job after talking about 'hateful thoughts' in a discussion about Kirk, and now Keaton's comments have sparked some criticism.

Charlie Kirk at the event, moments before he was killed (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)

While speaking at the Investigative Reporters and Editors’ 50th anniversary gala on Monday (September 15), the Pennsylvania-born actor said there was an 'irony' in Kirk being gunned down, presumably due to his pro-armed stance and heated debates arguing against gun control.

In his full statement, Keaton appeared to pay respects to Kirk and the family he leaves behind while addressing gun violence.

"Before we start to get into the meat of this thing, I’m going to take a minute to say that, regardless of how I probably — not probably — have disagreed with many things he said, Charlie Kirk leaves behind two kids and a wife," he said at the start of his speech. "You gotta remember that.

“Because in the end, shooting people will never answer anything, and the irony that he was killed with a gun is unbelievable."

The Beetlejuice Beetlejuice star quickly came under scrutiny online for the comment, however, with many of Kirk's fans calling him 'a moron' or 'garbage' for the remark.

Michael Keaton has weighed in on the controversial topic (Jason Howard/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

"This right here is why sooo many people checked out of watching anything Hollywood creates," penned another. "Third grade education on display again."

A second wrote: "The only irony is that far left subhumans who scream for gun control keep using guns to hurt innocent law abiding Americans. Hypocrite."

However, others failed to see the offence, as another said: "He disagreed with Kirk. Ironic he was shot with a gun. What’s so offensive? Y'all need to take it easy on the cult stuff."

UNILAD has contacted Keaton's reps for comment.