TMZ founder Harvey Levin issued a rare public apology yesterday after “laughter” and “clapping” were overheard during TMZ’s live coverage of the Charlie Kirk assassination.

Levin, flanked by his co-producer Charles Latibeaudiere, acknowledged that during TMZ’s livestream, a group of people off-camera were heard clapping and laughing, but he assured viewers that it had nothing to do with the news surrounding Kirk.

Levin said in his apology that the laughter came from a room where a group of employees were watching a “car chase.”

Levin added that he “knows these people” and that they “were not reacting that way about Charlie Kirk’s assassination.” For his part, Latibeaudiere acknowledged that it was “horrible timing.” They both went on to apologize four or five times for subjecting their audience to “laughter” during such a serious event.

I have no reason to believe they’re lying, but that must have been one heck of a car chase. 

#BREAKING: TMZ officials have issued an official apology after many believed crowds were cheering at the news of Charlie Kirk’s death. In reality, the people watching a car chase began laughing and clapping at what they were seeing, and TMZ clarified they were not reacting to… pic.twitter.com/tXQfapbAfV

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) September 11, 2025