The Matt Walsh Show — Episode 1703: The “N-Word” Just Got a Cinnabon Employee Fired & And a Violent Criminal His Freedom

Host: Matt Walsh (The Daily Wire)
Date: December 8, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Matt Walsh examines two racially charged incidents and how the use of the "N-word" has evolved into a symbol of social and legal power with dire consequences: a Cinnabon employee in Wisconsin is fired after using the slur, while a black man in Portland is acquitted of a near-fatal stabbing after his white victim uttered the word post-attack. Walsh critiques the disproportionate media coverage of such events, explores the impact of anti-white sentiment, and reflects on broader cultural and political ramifications, including media sensationalism, the decay of meaningful discourse, and American identity. The episode is marked by Walsh's characteristic sarcasm, bluntness, and frustration with both leftist narratives and right-wing reactions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cinnabon Incident: The Viral Firing Over a Racial Slur

• Summary:
  Walsh describes a viral altercation at a Cinnabon in Wisconsin, where an employee (Crystal) was filmed using the N-word and other insults toward Somali customers after a dispute (possibly over caramel on a cinnamon roll or personal remarks about dress).
• Walsh's Take:
  • The atmosphere at mall Cinnabon shops is expected to be mundane and conflict-free, but this incident was quickly turned into a "national story" and cited as evidence of "white supremacy."
  • Walsh expresses skepticism about the full context, noting that exchanges started before filming and were likely provoked:

    “You have no context, no idea what happened beforehand. This is all you get.” (03:00)

  • He critiques the "outrage cycle," noting that extensive funds were raised for the fired employee via crowdfunding, paralleling a familiar right-wing pushback against cancellations.
  • Walsh deems her firing justified on professional grounds — public obscenities or slurs at work warrant dismissal, regardless of context.
  • He is suspicious of the entire incident’s framing by media and internet sleuths, pointing out that Crystal is a Democrat who voted for Kamala Harris, suggesting layered motives or even the possibility of a hoax:

    “The whole thing is weird. Like it doesn't make a lot of sense.” (10:30)

• Meta-commentary:
  Larger concern, per Walsh, is the magical power conferred on the word, resulting in disproportionate social and professional consequences.

2. Portland Stabbing Acquittal: The N-Word as Legal Get-Out-of-Jail-Free Card

• Summary:
  In Portland, a black man (Gary Edwards) stabs a white man (Gregory Howard), but is acquitted after it emerges the victim used the N-word on video post-attack. Walsh explains there was no dispute about the stabbing itself and strongly believes the acquittal (by a Portland jury) came solely because of the slur’s utterance.
• Walsh's Take:
  • Outlines the facts:

    “A black man named Gary Edwards, who had previous convictions... had seriously injured yet another unarmed individual... Gary Edwards was quickly arrested and charged... But just five months later, Gary Edwards has been acquitted... What happened is that the victim, after the attack, was captured on police body camera saying the N word. And based on that fact alone, Gary Edwards was let off the hook.” (12:38-13:40)

  • Walsh ridicules the idea that the victim’s outburst justifies a violent attack—especially since the slur was said only after being stabbed.

    “To use a racial slur after you get stabbed retroactively justifies getting stabbed. That is a jury verdict that happened in this country.” (16:38)

  • Emphasizes principle:

    “Bad words do not justify violence, period.” (18:07)

  • Criticizes societal elevation of one forbidden word above all others, and the double standard in how racial crime and language are treated depending on the race of perpetrators and victims.

3. Disproportionate Outrage & Anti-White Sentiment

• National Outrage vs. Local Incidents:
  Walsh asserts that minor, localized disputes, when catapulted into the national discourse, signal deeper cultural obessions and neuroses:

  “This is a very local employment matter at the Cinnabon in Wisconsin. That's what this is. This is not a national story.” (09:20)

• Somali-American Tensions:
  Discusses another incident involving Shiloh Hendricks, a white Minnesotan woman prosecuted for disorderly conduct after confrontations with Somalis—evidence, he argues, that anti-white grievance has legal force:

  “White people are not allowed to demonstrate their disapproval for Somalis anymore, whether they're using offensive language or not.” (21:16)

• Reflection on Demographic Change:
  Walsh frequently references Somalis as recurring antagonists in local American life, contending that their presence and cultural norms are eroding American freedoms, especially free speech:

  “It's almost like the Somalis are coming here, causing a lot of trouble, antagonizing the actual native citizens of this country.” (19:47)

4. Media Hysteria, Political Discourse, and the “Nothing Means Anything Anymore” Phenomenon

• Media’s Role:
  The media’s fixation on sensational stories over context and substance is criticized throughout:

  “Major news outlets aren't interested in the fact that a minimum wage fast food employee had a verbal spat with customers who were almost certainly provoking her. Nobody cares about that. That's the kind of thing that happens a million times a day. It's only a story because of the magical power that we have imbued on one specific racial slur.” (10:32)

• Decay of Discourse:
  Walsh laments how extreme accusations are now deployed so constantly that they lose all force, reacting especially to Democratic claims that Trump’s military actions are “war crimes”:

  “Nothing means anything. It's what makes our political discourse totally hopeless, totally pointless.” (39:40)

5. Culture Wars, American Identity, and Celebrity Commentary

• On the Word ‘Football’:
  Walsh vehemently opposes Donald Trump’s suggestion that America should reconsider using “football” to refer to its version of the sport:

  “I never thought I would say this, but we should. We need to denaturalize and deport Donald Trump. That's the only solution I can come up with.” (48:19)
  (delivered in tongue-in-cheek hyperbole)

• On Celebrities and “Based” Disappointments:
  Discusses Sydney Sweeney’s efforts to distance herself from perceived right-wing support.

  “Sydney Sweeney is not the based right winger that many right wingers had hoped that she would be. What changed? Well, nothing changed, to be totally clear.” (53:59)

  • Critiques conservatives for their tendency to prematurely idolize celebrities who show minor dissent from progressive Hollywood.

• American Elites and Immigration:
  Mocks Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry pandering to Somali immigrants, as an example of would-be “American” leaders sacrificing traditional norms in favor of multicultural virtue signaling—even when uncomfortable or distasteful to themselves.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Cinnabon saga:

  “It’s only a story because of the magical power that we have imbued on one specific racial slur.” — Matt Walsh (10:32)

• On the Portland stabbing trial:

  “To use a racial slur after you get stabbed retroactively justifies getting stabbed. That is a jury verdict that happened in this country.” — Matt Walsh (16:38)

• On American discourse:

  “Nothing means anything. It’s what makes our political discourse totally hopeless, totally pointless. Nothing means anything.” — Matt Walsh (39:40)

• On Donald Trump and ‘football’:

  “I never thought I would say this, but… we need to denaturalize and deport Donald Trump.” (48:19, tongue-in-cheek)

• On culture war fatigue:

  “And like the Cinnabon woman, we are all tired of it.” (24:13)

Noteworthy Segment Timestamps

• (02:01 – 04:36): Description and audio clip of the Cinnabon incident.
• (06:18 – 10:32): Walsh’s analysis of the viral video context and the media reaction.
• (12:38 – 16:38): Recap and commentary on the Portland stabbing, legal defense, and jury verdict.
• (18:07 – 19:59): Discussion of freedom of speech, vulgarity, and Somali-American tensions.
• (39:40 – 43:54): Riff on political discourse, extreme rhetoric, and its meaningless repetition.
• (47:03 – 49:36): Satirical discussion of Trump’s football remarks.
• (53:01 – 56:46): Reflection on Sydney Sweeney, celebrity politics, and right-wing disappointment.
• (60:55 – 64:43): Rebuke of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry and broader anti-immigration sentiment.

Tone and Language

Walsh’s style is direct, combative, and heavily sarcastic. He weaves personal anecdotes and biting humor with polemical critiques of the media, left-wing political correctness, and, at times, right-wing hysteria. Regularly invoking hyperbole and rhetorical questions, Walsh maintains a tone that is both exasperated and mocking, especially concerning coverage of race and crime.

Final Thoughts

Walsh concludes that the current cultural and legal climate in America is unsustainable, with outsized media outrage over minor incidents, the radical empowerment of one racial slur, and increasing anti-white sentiment. He warns of the decay of free speech and national standards, urging listeners to see through the media narrative and remain skeptical of grandstanding—from any side.

For listeners seeking an unfiltered take on these contemporary controversies, this episode is quintessential Matt Walsh: unrelenting, deeply skeptical, and, at times, darkly comedic.