The American public has had a split reaction to the assassination of public commentator and podcaster Charlie Kirk. His death at one of his rallies in early September has even impacted the sports world. Many major North American sports teams have paid tribute to Kirk at their games. Many players have also spoken out in support of Kirk and his family.
In Major League Baseball, Chicago Cubs rookie Matt Shaw has been one of Kirk’s most vocal supporters. He drew criticism for missing the team’s game against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday to attend the Charlie Kirk memorial service. According to Shaw, he received a direct invite from Kirk’s widow, Erika.
Shaw opened up on the backlash he received for attending the memorial service in a statement.
“My connection with Charlie was through our Christian faith… So whatever backlash comes is ok. I feel strong about my faith and what was meant to be happened,” Matt Shaw said.
UNSHAKEN FAITH: Chicago Cubs rookie Matt Shaw says he doesn’t care about receiving backlash after missing a game to attend Charlie Kirk’s memorial service. pic.twitter.com/BIgK77WKhq
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 24, 2025
Shaw was criticized for attending the service because he missed a critical game in the season. With the regular season drawing to a close, Shaw missed a game against the Cincinnati Reds. Without him, the Cubs lost the game 1-0. The Cubs are entrenched in the wild card race in the National League.
How Impactful Was Matt Shaw Missing The Chicago Cubs’ Game On Sunday?
While Matt Shaw was criticized for missing a game to attend Charlie Kirk’s memorial service, it is unlikely to impact the team’s position in the standings. As things stand on Thursday, the Cubs are eight games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are the team trying to break into a Wild Card position. The Cubs are also unlikely to catch Milwaukee in the NL Central, as the Brewers are 6.5 games ahead of them. Shaw was also absent for the team’s game against the Mets on Tuesday.
Shaw and Kirk developed a friendship while living in the same apartment block in Arizona. Their faith brought them together, and as a result, Shaw felt attending his memorial service was the right thing to do.
Read More:
- “Literally the Dumbest Sh*t”: Ex NFL WR Trolls The House for Filing Legislation To Put Charlie Kirk’s Face On 400,000 Coins
- “Amount Of People Charlie Kirk Has Brought To The Lord”: Mississippi State Star’s Wife Celebrates Media Personality’s Impact with Heartfelt Note
- “Wonder How Much the Recent Assassination of Charlie Kirk Played Into This”: Jeff Goodman Makes Massive Claim on Reason Behind Bruce Pearl’s Retirement
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