Chicago Cubs star Matt Shaw reacts to backlash after skipping game to attend Charlie Kirk's memorial: ‘I’m extremely…’

Matt Shaw, Chicago Cubs third baseman, addressed criticism for missing a game to attend Charlie Kirk's memorial, stating he is unconcerned about backlash.

Updated on: Sep 24, 2025, 16:00:13 IST

By Shweta Kukreti

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Matt Shaw, the third baseman for the Chicago Cubs, broke silence over the criticism for missing a game to attend Conservative activist Charlie Kirk's memorial in Arizona, saying that he is “not concerned at all” about any backlash.

Shaw, according to his manager Craig Counsell, attended a friend's funeral on Sunday, and therefore, he was unable to attend the match in which Cubs got defeated by Cincinnati Reds.

Shaw gave an explanation for his decision to attend Kirk's memorial in spite of his team's schedule.

Before the Cubs' Tuesday series opener against the New York Mets, the Chicago Sun-Time reports that Shaw stated, “My connection with Charlie was through our [Christian] faith.”

Also Read: Did Trump just berate UN over escalator, teleprompter malfunction? ‘Melania would have fallen’

"And that’s something that drives me every day, the reason why I’m able to do what I do every day, and that’s something I’m extremely thankful for. I know without my faith and without the many blessings I’ve been given in my life, that I wouldn’t be here, be able to talk to you guys, able to help this team eventually go and win championships," he continued. "That’s something I feel really, really blessed about, so whatever backlash comes is OK. I feel strong about my faith and that what was meant to be, happened."

Matt Shaw opens up about friendship with Matt Shaw

Shaw also mentioned that he and Kirk developed friendship over the previous offseason as they shared an apartment complex in Arizona. According to Shaw, the two remained in touch during the MLB season.

Shaw claimed he was very sad upon learning about Kirk's murder at an Utah Valley University event on September 10. “I don’t know how to describe everything that happened, how I was feeling, But I will say I was tearing up pretty good. I had a lot of [teammates] supporting me, and that will be something I’ll remember for my entire life,” he said.

He went on to call Kirk “one of the biggest Cubs fans I ever Met.” Shaw further mentioned that it was Erika Kirk, his wife, who sent him an invite to attend the memorial. After speaking with Counsell and a few colleagues, Shaw believed that his decision to go was approved.

The Cubs were one among the Major League Baseball clubs who honored Kirk and demanded a halt to “all political violence.”

In compliance with President Donald Trump's declaration honoring Kirk, MLB requested that clubs fly the flag at half-staff at Wrigley Field.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shweta Kukreti
Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.