Hollywood Celebs Suffer Meltdown Over Fort Hood Shooter Execution

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced that the Pentagon will livestream the firing-squad execution of convicted Fort Hood mass shooter Nidal Malik Hasan, prompting public criticism from several entertainers and commentators.

Hasan was convicted and sentenced to death for the 2009 shooting at Fort Hood that killed 14 people—12 U.S. Army soldiers, one civilian, and an unborn child—and injured 33 others.

The execution is scheduled for December 3.

Hegseth told Jack Posobiec on Real America’s Voice, “He’s going get a firing squad of soldiers, as it should be. We’ll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it’s public — because people need to understand that there’s serious consequences for these types of things.”

Henry Winkler responded, “Live execution?? Is this where we are now?”

Alyssa Farah Griffin, co-host of The View, wrote, “I support the death penalty, especially for terrorists. But I think it’s toxic for society to live-stream an execution. And bad for the human soul to tune in to watch.”

Writer Joyce Carol Oates called the plan “sadism” and stated, “The condemned man will die & have no memory of the event which will imprint itself in the memories of those who observe. Hoping that, at least, families will not allow young children to watch. Sadism may be like filth in water—with unintended consequences for many.”

John Leguizamo and others also voiced opposition, characterizing the livestream as an unnecessary public display of violence.

None of the critics defended Hasan’s actions; their objections centered on the decision to broadcast the execution itself.

The Pentagon’s stated rationale is that public viewing will demonstrate the consequences of such crimes, while the critics argue the broadcast would be harmful to viewers and to society at large.