Imagine walking into your workplace, only to hear a colleague gleefully cheer the violent death of a public figure—and then getting punished for calling it out.
That’s the shocking reality for Lexi Kuenzle, a New Jersey nurse at Englewood Health, who now finds herself suspended without pay after objecting to a doctor’s alleged celebration of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
This troubling saga unfolded at Englewood Health when Kuenzle reacted to Dr. Matthew Jung’s reported remarks about Kirk’s shooting at a Utah Valley University event, leading to her lawsuit against the hospital and the doctor for what she claims is unfair retaliation.
The New York Post reported that the incident kicked off on Wednesday as news broke of Charlie Kirk being shot during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University.
Kuenzle, stationed at a nurse’s area with eight other nurses and a patient nearby, overheard Dr. Jung, a bariatric surgeon, allegedly express joy over the tragedy. It’s hard to fathom a medical professional airing such sentiments in a healing environment.
“Oh, my God! That’s terrible!” Kuenzle exclaimed, adding, “I love him!” Her visceral reaction to the shooting of Kirk, a prominent conservative voice, shows a heartfelt connection to the values he represents, yet it’s stunning that expressing dismay could land her in hot water.
Dr. Jung, however, allegedly doubled down with chilling words: “I hate Charlie Kirk.” He’s claimed to have said Kirk “had it coming” and “deserved it,” per the lawsuit filed by Kuenzle. If true, such a statement from a doctor raises serious questions about professional decorum in a hospital setting.
Kuenzle didn’t let it slide, firing back, “You’re a doctor. How could you say someone deserved to die?” Her challenge cuts to the core of medical ethics—shouldn’t a healer prioritize compassion over personal politics?
That same Wednesday, Kuenzle took her concerns straight to hospital management, hoping for accountability. She later shared her frustration on social media after heading home, clearly rattled by the day’s events. “It was mind-blowing to me,” she admitted, capturing the outrage many might feel in her shoes.
By Thursday, the hammer fell—Kuenzle was called into a meeting with hospital leaders, suspended without pay pending an investigation, and even advised by a union rep to start job hunting. The speed of this punishment feels like a slap in the face to someone standing up for principle. Why is the whistleblower the one facing consequences?
Meanwhile, Dr. Jung reportedly offered to “buy lunch” for the nurses who witnessed his remarks, a gesture that conveniently wouldn’t include Kuenzle due to her suspension.
This olive branch, if genuine, seems more like a publicity stunt than a sincere apology. As of Saturday, there’s no word on whether Jung himself faced any discipline for his alleged comments.
Kuenzle, a 33-year-old Hoboken resident with a decade of nursing experience, including nearly two years at Englewood Health, isn’t just any employee—she’s a dedicated professional.
Her conservative leanings, evident from Instagram posts showcasing her patriotism with an American flag and support for former President Trump, shouldn’t disqualify her from fair treatment. Yet, it seems her values might have made her a target in a workplace possibly swayed by progressive biases.
The setting of this drama adds another layer of concern: a patient was on a stretcher nearby when Jung allegedly made his remarks. Conservative activist Scott Presler rightly asked, “Would he treat them differently?” It’s a fair worry—can a doctor who cheers violence on ideological grounds be trusted to care for all patients equally?
Kuenzle’s lawsuit, filed Friday in Bergen County Superior Court, seeks unspecified damages against Englewood Health, Dr. Jung, and others involved. Her fight isn’t just about her job; it’s about the right to speak out against what she saw as a gross violation of workplace ethics. In a culture increasingly hostile to dissenting views, her stand is a bold one.
This case isn’t merely a hospital spat—it’s a microcosm of the larger battle over free expression in professional spaces. When a nurse can’t voice horror at a doctor’s callous remarks without losing her livelihood, it sends a chilling message to workers everywhere. Are we so afraid of offending the wrong sensibilities that we punish truth-tellers?
Englewood Health’s response—or lack thereof—toward Dr. Jung while swiftly sidelining Kuenzle suggests a troubling double standard. If the hospital values inclusivity as much as modern institutions claim, shouldn’t that extend to political diversity? Silencing a conservative nurse while a doctor’s alleged hate goes unchecked isn’t justice; it’s selective outrage.