The Kansas City Star newspaper is getting pushback from conservative pundits and journalists after belittling political commentator Michael Knowles’ assault during a speech at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, titled, “Men are Not Women.”

The newspaper published an editorial Friday, which criticized Knowles and published other articles that claimed he had disparaged the transgender community, and speculated that he intended to spark disruption on campus.

"That's not a tit for tat. That's called assault."

The @KCStar just published an entire article—based on nothing—alleging that I wanted to be assaulted. https://t.co/wtuU9QkuL2 — Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) April 13, 2019





[RELATED: Conservative speaker doused during UMKC speech slams chancellor over response]

Knowles, a columnist at the Daily Wire, was invited to UMKC by the student groups Young America’s Foundation and the College Republicans, and attracted groups of protestors. During the speech, a student protester, dressed in all black with a bandana covering his face, ran up to Knowles while spraying a mysterious liquid, now known to have been a mixture of non-toxic household liquids, toward the speaker.

The protester who allegedly sprayed the substance was later arrested and charged on multiple counts, including assault. That didn't stop the Kansas City Star editorial board from seemingly siding with the man who allegedly assaulted Knowles.

Under the headline, "At UMKC, a D-List conservative was sad to be squirted with the makings of a bubble bath," the newspaper's editorial board claimed that Knowles "couldn't wait to claim victimhood," in the incident that it described as a "tiny tit for tiny tat."

Daily Wire Editor in Chief Ben Shapiro called out the newspaper for that characterization.

"That's not a tit for tat. That's called assault," Shapiro tweeted.

[RELATED: Suspect in Michael Knowles UMKC assault identified, faces multiple charges]

This, from the @KCStar editorial board, is nuts. @michaeljknowles was speaking; his assailant was attempting to stop him. That's not a tit for tat. That's called assault. pic.twitter.com/BXHYoj2kWk — Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) April 12, 2019

NRA TV host Dana Loesch also slammed the newspaper, saying it's "not a shocker" that the Star would attack the victim.

Not a shocker. A conservative speaker is attacked by someone who wanted to assault him by throwing an unknown substance https://t.co/wuPeEq3GwO and the @KCStar mocks the speaker: https://t.co/irSbqG6hpj #Journalisming — Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) April 12, 2019

Journalist Andy Ngo, too, criticized the editorial, calling it "shameful."





“At UMKC, a D-List conservative was sad to be squirted with the makings of a bubble bath.” Ever get bath oils in your eyes? I’m surprised editorial board at @KCStar would be so flippant about an invited speaker being treated this way at an academic institution. Shameful editorial pic.twitter.com/ohjkMtDgNs — Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) April 12, 2019

Dan Gainor, vice president of business and culture at the conservative Media Research Center, also weighed in on the editorial.

"This is doubly outrageous. The University of Missouri attack is exactly the way far-left extremists have been abusing conservatives at campuses across the country. But it’s worse for the press to rationalize it," Gainor told Campus Reform.

"For the Kansas City Star to downplay the attack is downright offensive. I can’t imagine the editorial board would say a reporter was claiming 'victimhood' if one of their staff had been sprayed. It’s not 'outrage kabuki' to be upset that some dangerous nutball sprays you with an unknown chemical. That’s designed to intimidate and terrorize," Gainor added.

Campus Reform reached out to the Kansas City Star for reaction to the criticisms. No response was received in time for publication.

Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @Grace_Gotcha