On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed by an assailant in an incident that remains under investigation. Authorities have not publicly disclosed the shooter’s motives, though preliminary reports describe the individual as potentially mentally unstable.
Author Stephen King responded to the news on X (formerly Twitter) with a post stating: “The motivation of the man who shot Charlie Kirk isn’t clear (although he’s probably mentally unstable–duh). What is clear is it was another example of American gun violence.” King followed this with another post likening Kirk’s assassin to historical figures such as Lee Harvey Oswald and James Earl Ray, describing them as “cowards who shot from ambush.”
The situation escalated when King replied to a post about Kirk’s death with the statement: “He advocated stoning gays to death. Just sayin’.” This claim was later deleted. Fact-checks confirmed that Kirk had not advocated for stoning individuals, though he had referenced biblical passages in discussions on social issues.
King issued apologies on X. In one post, he wrote: “I apologize for saying Charlie Kirk advocated stoning gays. What he actually demonstrated was how some people cherry-pick Biblical passages.” In another, he added: “I have apologized. Charlie Kirk never advocated stoning gays to death.” He also confirmed deleting the original post and acknowledged being incorrect.
The remarks drew criticism from conservative figures and commentators, who described them as insensitive and potentially inflammatory in the context of Kirk’s recent death. Social media discussions highlighted concerns over misinformation during times of tragedy.
Rumors emerged online about a potential lawsuit from Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, against King, but no official filings have been reported as of September 15, 2025.
This incident underscores ongoing tensions in public discourse around political violence and social media accountability.