Late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel’s commentary surrounding the assassination of young conservative activist Charlie Kirk was disturbing and inaccurate, but quite frankly, not surprising.
What was a surprise, however, was the outpouring of love and honor that many A-list celebrities and social media influencers have shown in the days following Kirk’s death on Sept. 10.
“I disagreed with him on almost every point I ever heard him say, but I believe he was a man of faith,” actress Jamie Lee Curtis said of Kirk on the “WTF” podcast while choking back tears. “And I hope in that moment when he died that he felt connected to his faith.”
Actor Chris Pratt shared a video prayer and then encouraged his followers to stop scrolling and instead get outside or call a friend. Singer Justin Bieber wrote about a spiritual battle for the mind in a post on Instagram after the Turning Point USA founder died.
Jeffree Star, social media influencer and creator of Jeffree Star Cosmetics, was streaming live on social media when he learned Kirk had been shot. He immediately condemned the shooting and spoke out in support of free speech. When Star received criticism from some of his followers for condemning the assassination, he was quick to respond.
“Because I’m standing up for someone that passed away, I’m now being called names in the chat. This is what’s wrong with a lot of you people. You will never get far in life. You are sick in the head,” Star retorted.
Some who have spoken out in celebration of Kirk’s death, or made highly controversial comments over the tragedy, have lost their jobs as a result.
Charlie Rock, Carolina Panthers NFL communications staffer, lost his job for a social media post he made after Kirk’s death.
“Why are y’all sad? Your man said it was worth it,” Rock said.
American Airlines fired a pilot who reportedly wrote on social media: “Well, hey, Charlie. Sorry you got shot in your fat f—— forehead. It was just the cost of our liberty. ‘Thoughts and prayers.’”
And now, most notably, ABC indefinitely suspended Kimmel’s late-night show after the comedian made light of Kirk’s assassination and inaccurately claimed that the shooter was “MAGA.”
“The MAGA gang [is] desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said.
Unlike Kimmel, the vast majority of Americans, including many celebrities, recognize that Kirk’s assassination was evil and a dark moment in American history.
On Sunday, tens of thousands of Americans will gather at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, for Kirk’s memorial service, and thousands more are expected to stream the ceremony live on Kirk’s Rumble page.
Speakers at the memorial will include President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, will also speak, and Christian worship artists Chris Tomlin, Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham, Kari Jobe Carnes, and Cody Carnes will perform.
On this week’s edition of “Problematic Women,” we discuss the celebrity response to Kirk’s death and what our responsibility is now to carry Kirk’s legacy forward.
Enjoy the show!
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