Ghanaian-American Journalist Karen Attiah Fired by Washington Post Over Posts on Charlie Kirk and Political Violence

Ghanaian-American columnist Karen Attiah, a longtime contributor to The Washington Post, revealed on September 15, 2025, that she was fired from the paper’s Opinions section after sharing critical social media posts about political violence and racial double standards in the U.S.

Attiah’s posts followed the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk by a self-identified far-left gunman. In her commentary, Attiah highlighted America’s tendency to show “performative care” for white men who promote hate, referencing Kirk’s controversial 2023 remarks about Black women’s intelligence — though she never named him directly.

In a Substack post, the former Global Opinions editor said she was dismissed for “speaking out against political violence, racial double standards, and America’s apathy toward guns.” While The Post declined to comment on the firing, it updated her biography to reflect her departure.

The Washington Post Guild condemned the decision, calling her firing unjust. Despite management concerns over her implying that Kirk “espoused violence,” Attiah defended her posts, stating they were met with thoughtful engagement and little public backlash.

Her dismissal comes amid a broader editorial shake-up at The Post’s Opinions section.