Ex-ESPN host says messages 'more disturbing than ever' after mourning Charlie Kirk's death

Former ESPN host Samantha Ponder revealed on social media she s received disturbing messages after she expressed her sorrow for the death of Charlie Kirk last week Ponder who also spoke about her concerns for safety while riding the New York City subway following the stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska wrote on X that her direct messages have increasingly gotten worse since mourning the loss of the -year-old conservative influencer CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS COM My DMs are more disturbing than ever and trust me that s sayin something Apparently only perfect people can be mourned when they re murdered in their s with a wife and young children she wrote When a man is shot debating opinions with anyone for all to see he must align with our chosen dogma perfectly If not he had it coming shouldn t have reported those mean things so you should shut up about it How can we see someone post about sadness over the death of ANYONE they cared about even someone we think was flawed and say Stop being sad about them I didn t like their opinions Mourn with those who mourn If I ever see hypocrisy let me see it in myself God forbid every word we ve ever spoken be the prerequisite for sympathy when we die Kirk was assassinated at an event on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem Tyler Robinson was charged in his killing NFL GREAT'S NJ HOMETOWN REFUSED TO LOWER FLAGS IN HONOR OF CHARLIE KIRK ITS NEIGHBORS ROSE TO THE OCCASIONPonder was among the sports figures who spoke out about Kirk s death and mourning for his family and loved ones I feel changed by this At first admittedly more fearful she wrote on Thursday But as I consider what's at stake for our country and our children I am emboldened to speak the truth with love even more I spent so much of my professional career as a coward shamefully afraid to say true things because it might jeopardize my position One of the great things about having no position anymore is the realization that a platform is certainly useless without courage I mourn for Charlie's family I mourn for our country But I have renewed hope that a great number of like me will find the courage to lovingly speak the truth boldly in the citizens square as he often did Follow Fox News Digital s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter