MSNBC.com stirred outrage this week with a headline many conservatives slammed as shockingly sympathetic to a convicted murderer.

The headline, which stated “Laken Riley’s killer never stood a chance,” was widely criticized for downplaying the victim, Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, who was brutally murdered in February.

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As reported by Fox News, the article, published Thursday, detailed the conviction of Jose Antonio Ibarra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela. Ibarra was sentenced to life in prison without parole after being found guilty of multiple counts of murder and other crimes.

According to the MSNBC piece, the overwhelming evidence against Ibarra made it “a hopeless case” for his defense team.

However, the headline’s phrasing caused an uproar on social media, with many accusing the outlet of shifting sympathy away from Riley and her grieving family to her murderer.

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Prominent conservative commentator, @AGHamilton29 expressed outrage on X, formerly Twitter, writing, “You know who never stood a chance? Laken Riley. The actual victim.”

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Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah called out the headline, saying it portrayed Riley’s killer as the victim. “Laken Riley’s killer is now the victim, according to MSNBC,” Lee posted.

Donald Trump Jr. didn’t hold back, labeling MSNBC’s take as depraved. “You literally can’t make up this level of depravity. These people are sick. The guy is a murderer. He’s an illegal alien that killed an innocent young woman, but MSNBC would rather go to bat for him. However much you hate MSNBC, it’s not enough!”

Stephen Miller, contributing editor for The Spectator, sarcastically noted, “And this is why MSNBC, the brand, is being sold off for pennies,” referencing rumors that NBCUniversal’s parent company, Comcast, is considering spinning off underperforming networks, including MSNBC.

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Conservative commentator Adam Johnston added, “Look at how @MSNBC framed the conviction and sentencing of Laken Riley’s killer. Jose Ibarra never stood a chance? No. Laken Riley never stood a chance against this monster. Absolutely sickening.”

The backlash wasn’t limited to pundits. Popular social media account “Defiant L’s,” with over a million followers, blasted MSNBC, writing, “Hey MSNBC, you know who also ‘never stood a chance’? Laken Riley. Laken Riley should be alive today. But she never stood a chance because of this monster.”

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The case of Jose Ibarra struck a nerve with many Americans frustrated by what they see as a lack of accountability in border enforcement. Ibarra had entered the U.S. illegally in 2022 after fleeing Venezuela. For many critics, the headline exemplified what they view as mainstream media’s tendency to prioritize narratives over justice.

Tea Party Movement co-founder Debbie Dooley also weighed in, condemning MSNBC staff: “The scumbags at @MSNBC showed sympathy to the animal that brutally murdered Laken Riley. It was Laken that never stood a chance.”

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MSNBC did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment, and the backlash continued to grow as conservatives hammered the outlet for what they saw as a blatant misstep.