Since Charlie Kirk’s assassination, loads of public figures have spoken out about his death and shared their thoughts. Celebrities have made controversial posts, politicians have made public statements, and many people close to him have shared tributes. Charlie Kirk was known for his heated debates with liberals, from students to streamers. His organisation, Turning Points, toured university campuses around the US, Canada and Europe. In the aftermath of his death, many of his political rivals have spoken out.
Dean Withers
@bronny9james no ones deserve death @Dean Withers #donaldtrump #charliekirk #death #deanwithers #gunviolanceneedstostop
21-year-old political influencer and content creator Dean Withers was one of the most vocal Charlie Kirk critics on social media. Dean calls himself a “woke teen,” and regularly posted videos debating many of Charlie Kirk’s key beliefs, like being pro-life and pro-gun. But his live reaction to the murder of Charlie Kirk shocked many viewers. He broke down in tears, saying: “He doesn’t deserve that man. Him and his family, they don’t deserve that.”
After Dean got criticism from his audience who thought he was being overly empathetic, he doubled down, saying: “This is not about party lines, so don’t f***ing make it about party lines.”
Hassan Piker
via YouTube
Huge political commentator and Twitch streamer Hassan Piker reacted to Charlie Kirk’s assassination, live on stream. He saw the video of the incident. “That was f***ing devastating, America is so absolutely f***ed,” he said.
When people on his stream started making jokes about the assassination, Hassan immediately shot them down and explained just how serious the situation is. He was set to have a public debate with Charlie Kirk at Dartmouth University on the 25th of September.
“This is a person that I have known and have debated in public settings since 2016,” he said. “This is the most horrifying thing I have ever seen.”
Tilly Middlehurst
via YouTube
A few months ago, Tilly Middlehurst went viral for her debate with Charlie Kirk at Oxford University. They debated on women’s rights and religion back in May. On his passing, she told the BBC that she was “shaken and disgusted”.
“Political violence like this affects all of us, it doesn’t just affect the people that you disagree with,” she said in a statement on her Instagram.
“This isn’t a step in the right direction. This isn’t fighting fascism.”
Naima Troutt
via YouTube
University of Southern California student Naima Troutt debated Charlie Kirk last year in Jubilee’s 1 Conservative vs 25 Liberal College Students video. Looking back at this experience with The Guardian, she had mixed feelings.
“I think I became much better at articulating my viewpoints and defending my viewpoints, because one thing about Charlie is that as much as I disagree with – and at times hate – everything that he believed and stated in the past, the fact is he’s one of the only right-wingers who regularly puts themselves out there,” Naima said.
In a statement shared to her TikTok after Charlie’s assassination, she said: “All acts of gun violence are horrible and must be condemned. That is my baseline.”
She added: “Mind your karma, watch what you put online.”
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Featured image via YouTube: Cambridge Union, Hassan Piker and Jubilee
