Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist, was shot and killed this week during an event at Utah Valley University. The 31-year-old held polarizing beliefs about gun control, Black gangs, and Black women, which have forced the country to be heavily split on its responses to his passing.
While indifference to the passing of someone with whom you have ideological differences is understandable, celebrating the death on anyone is wrong. Additionally, violence within politics is archaic and upsetting, as people should ideally be able to disagree in a healthy enough manner so that things do not get to that point. Nonetheless, this country’s history has shown that people often feel oppressed to the point where violence is the only resolution, in their minds.
Kirk was a father and a husband, so it is difficult to think about what his family may be enduring. However, how far can empathy go when considering the things he said and campaigned for while alive? Kirk was a strong advocate for President Donald Trump and helped influence young voters to support the convicted felon’s reelection to office. Looking at all Trump has done in his first nine months back in the White House understandably makes people even more unwilling to feel sympathy toward his supporters.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at how celebrities have reacted to Kirk’s death.
Barack Obama
Image Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images Barack always looks to take the most measured stance on topics and consider the well-being of the entire country, to the chagrin of many. So his tweet on X after Kirk was confirmed dead was unsurprising.
“We don’t yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy,” he wrote. “Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie’s family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children.”
Lamar Jackson
Image Credit: Stacy Revere/Getty Images Lamar Jackson is loved by many for what he does on the football field and his willingness to take accountability after losses, even if he was not at fault. Off the field, the Baltimore Ravens superstar has had some questionable moments, such as nicknaming President Donald Trump “Truzz Trump” after the controversial politician celebrated Jackson being drafted to the Ravens in 2018.
He did not say anything directly about Kirk’s death, but he did repost a tweet from former Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith that could backfire on him in the long run. “Celebrating the death of someone you don’t share the same beliefs as is wild,” Smith wrote. “Seeing it play out in real time is disgusting.”
Again, a valid sentiment in general. However, for the people who don’t want to feel bad for Kirk, this is another eyebrow-raising moment.
Pat McAfee
Image Credit: JC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images Pat McAfee dedicated a tweet and four minutes of his eponymous ESPN sports talk show to addressing Kirk’s untimely death. Though the former NFL punter is beloved in the sports space for his charisma and passion, his political stances have turned some away from him.
“Charlie Kirk, a name synonymous with having the courage to speak what you believe and seek/welcome conversations with those whom you disagree with,” he wrote on X. “I’m not a political person but I am a proud American citizen and today was startling, saddening, and maddening all at the same time.. I’ve realized that I’m a bit naive to how crazy it all has become but watching a man get hunted and slayed in broad daylight because of his opinions made me disgusted and devastated.”
He reflected on how the country has gotten to this point, and his belief that while the “good people will always outnumber the evil people,” Kirk’s death was alarming. Thus, he focused on sending his thoughts to Kirk’s family, friends, and loved ones.
Donald Trump
Image Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images If you know anything about President Donald Trump’s history with Charlie Kirk, then his reaction to the conservative activist’s death should not be shocking. Trump plans to honor him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously, and shared more thoughts at the Pentagon on Thursday (Sept. 11), per NBC.
“Before we begin, let me express the horror and grief so many Americans at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk have felt,” he said during his speech. “Charlie was a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty and an inspiration to millions and millions of people. Our prayers are with his wonderful wife, Erika, and his beautiful children — fantastic people they are. We miss him greatly, yet I have no doubt that Charlie’s voice and the courage he put into the hearts of countless people, especially young people, will live on.”
In a video shortly after Kirk was pronounced dead, Trump blamed the Democrats for his passing. “It’s [long] past time for all Americans and the media to confront the fact that violence and murder are the tragic [consequences] of demonizing those with whom you disagree,” he said. “For years, those on the radical Left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals. This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today, and it must stop right now.”
Claressa Shields
Image Credit: Marleen Moise/Getty Images for WSF For some people, Kirk’s death is more a matter of what human beings deserve than a matter of their political leanings. Boxer Claressa Shields, like many, was taken aback by a video of someone being shot flooding social media.
“I can’t believe a man being shot & killed is just all down my timeline,” she wrote with sad face emojis. “I’m not into politics but Charlie Kirk did not deserve that. No one deserves that.” It would be interesting to know her thoughts after hearing that he said, “Black women do not have brain processing power to be taken seriously. You have to go steal a white person’s slot.”
Amanda Seales
Image Credit: Unique Nicole/Getty Images for The Vanity Group One place that people won’t find empathy for Charlie Kirk is in Amanda Seales’ world. Why? Because the late author himself didn’t possess any.
“First of all, Charlie Kirk don’t believe in empathy,” Seales said in an Instagram video. “He said it’s a bad thing. He said it’s some ‘new-age made-up sh*t.’ He also said people got to be sacrificed in order to protect guns. If he was saying that while fighting for reparations, I may have a little bit of empathy.”
Even upon learning that he was confirmed dead in real time, she did not waver. “He died? Damn, B. Life comes at you fast,” she added in a dismissive tone. “I can’t have empathy because I have no connectivity. I have more connectivity to someone who is a complete stranger that dies of a drug overdose than I do to someone like Charlie Kirk. Because life is hard and I understand that. Because it takes very little for someone to end up committing themselves to an existence of numbness.” Per the social media responses, the actress is not alone in her stance.
Jimmy Kimmel
Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images Jimmy Kimmel didn’t want to delve into the details of the negativity Kirk’s death created. “Instead of the angry finger-pointing, can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human?” he wrote on Instagram. “On behalf of my family, we send love to the Kirks and to all the children, parents and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence.”
Unfortunately, given the division of this country, that won’t happen. His heart may have been in the right place, but it is deeper than gun violence to many.
Dr. Phil
Image Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images “Charlie Kirk, husband, father, friend, American, has been assassinated,” Dr. Phil wrote on X, captioning an almost four-minute video. “His spirit, passion and message will live on. Prayers for his soul and his wife and children.”
This response should not shock many, as Phil has been supportive of Trump’s immigration policies and has accompanied ICE during some of their raids.
