The concept of “suicidal empathy” was introduced by academic and social scientist Gad Saad. It describes a form of empathy that goes so far it potentially harms both the empathizer and others. Saad uses this term to critique certain leftist approaches, such as the movement to defund the police, which he views as an example of this extreme empathy.
In a video discussion, Nick Shirley engages with a New York University student about the idea of closing prisons, using the scenario of allowing rapists to remain free. The student, who shares her own experience of having been raped, argues that incarcerating rapists may not address the underlying issues within them or herself that led to the crime. She questions whether imprisonment would change the offender’s mindset or prevent future offenses.
This situation exemplifies what Saad refers to as suicidal empathy, and the conversation has been described as irrational.
Transcript via American Debunk:
Shirley: “Let’s just say somebody who has raped a woman.”
Student: “Totally.”
Shirley: “Would you like them to be out in the street?”
Student: “I think my answer is yes. Even though that’s a challenging answer to say.”
Shirley: “So if you got raped, would you like your rapist to be out in the street?”
Student: “Well, let me finish, because I have been raped and they are out in the street, and I’m not sure them going to jail is a solution to whatever’s going on inside their heart or even my own heart that contributed to that experience that I’m having.
And I don’t want more people to get raped, but I don’t know for certain that going into a jail in the United States is going to shift anything inside of their operating system so that they’ll make a different choice again.”
Watch the video:
NYU Student explains to Nick Shirley why she would let rapists walk free
This is an actual NYU student explaining, on camera to Nick Shirley, why she would prefer her own rapist remain free on the streets. Suicidal empathy.
Shirley: “Let’s just say somebody who has raped a… pic.twitter.com/V252yDSGNE
— American Debunk (@AmericanDebunk) July 30, 2026
If you want to learn more about suicidal empathy, watch this video:
A succinct clip explaining Suicidal Empathy. Please share. pic.twitter.com/9YWPOKVLmZ
— Gad Saad (@GadSaad) July 30, 2026
Has everyone on the left gone completely mad? The girl in that video was failed by her parents and teachers.
The post SUICIDAL EMPATHY: Watch a Student From NYU Explain Why She Would Not Want Her Rapist Jailed (VIDEO) appeared first on .
