Celebrity reactions to Charlie Kirk’s shooting as political tensions escalate
He was fatally shot while speaking at a university.
A number of celebrities have responded to the death of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk, as tensions rise both in the U.S. and globally over the role of free speech in the aftermath of his passing
The pundit, 31, was fatally shot in the neck while speaking to students at Utah Valley University on September 10.
The conservative commentator, who co-founded the right-wing youth organisation Turning Point USA, was kicking off his American Comeback Tour.
The political activist has been credited with helping Trump win the 2024 presidential election and was shot while answering a question about gun violence in the US.
The FBI has now confirmed they have arrested a suspect in connection with the shooting, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson.
Charlie Kirk was fatally shot while speaking to students in Utah (Picture: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Up Next
Previous Page Next PageHe was arrested at about 11pm on Thursday night, after reportedly confessing to his father, who turned him in.
Bullets were found near the scene scrawled with flippant, political messages, like ‘Hey fascist! Catch!’ and: ‘If you read this, you are gay LMAO.’
Follow the latest news on Charlie Kirk’s death with Metro’s live blog
Robinson will likely be charged next week, including for aggravated murder, which carries life behind bars or the death penalty.
Donald Trump has paid tribute to the MAGA spokesperson, who was a father to a daughter, three, and a one-year-old son.
‘The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,’ wrote Trump on his Truth Social platform at 4.40pm.
Donald Trump paid tribute to Kirk on social media (Picture: JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images) The MAGA spokesperson has been credited for helping Trump win the 2024 election (Picture: REUTERS)To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Up Next
Previous Page Next Page‘No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us.
‘Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!’
Now celebrities have taken to social media with their reactions to the shocking moment.
Jeremy Clarkson Jeremy Clarkson said he was ‘scared’ to be a newspaper columnist for the first time ever (Picture: Jon Hobley | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Jeremy Clarkson took to X and said: ‘For the first time in my life, I’m genuinely frightened about being a newspaper columnist.’
Jimmy KimmelJimmy Kimmel’s late night talk show has been taken off air following comments he made about the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
Broadcaster ABC has caused controversy overnight after announcing Jimmy Kimmel Live had been pulled ‘indefinitely’ following comments made by the presenter about the shooting.
Jimmy Kimmel called the shooting ‘senseless’ (Picture: jimmykimmel/Instagram)To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Up Next
Previous Page Next PageOn Monday’s episode of the show – which he’s hosted since 2003 – Kimmel said the following about Kirk’s alleged killer: ‘We had some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and with everything they can to score political points from it.’
Kimmel had previously described the assassination as ‘senseless’ and sent his love to all victims of gun violence.
‘Instead of the angry finger-pointing, can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human?’ Kimmel wrote in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
‘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.’
Stephen King Stephen King called it ‘another example of American gun violence'(Picture: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)I apologize for saying Charlie Kirk advocated stoning gays. What he actually demonstrated was how some people cherry-pick Biblical passages.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) September 12, 2025Author Stephen King said: ‘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 also tweeted that Kirk advocated for ‘stoning gays,’ something he later apologised for, writing: ‘I apologize for saying Charlie Kirk advocated stoning gays. What he actually demonstrated was how some people cherry-pick Biblical passages.’
Chris Pratt Chris Pratt said: ‘God help us’ (Picture: Cindy Ord/Getty Images)Guardians of the Galaxy actor Chris Pratt, 46, posted on X: ‘Praying for Charlie Kirk right now, for his wife and young children, for our country. We need God’s grace. God help us.’
After he faced backlash for supporting Kirk, he posted a video in which he said: ‘Hey guys, just stop real quick and pray with me,” he said before reciting. Okay, now you can continue scrolling or you can turn your phone off and go outside. Might I suggest the latter. Go get some sunshine. Go look at a tree, touch grass. Call a friend.
‘If you’ve got time to be on your phone right now, you’ve got time to do your to-do list and you’ve got time to reach out to somebody in need. Share this prayer with them.’
Amanda Seyfried Amanda Seyfried has been outspoken about her thoughts on Kirk (Picture: Alessandra Benedetti – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)Actress Amanda Seyfried – known for her role in the Mamma Mia movies and countless others – faced backlash for calling Charlie Kirk ‘hateful’ in an Instagram comment.
Subsequently, she clarified her remark in a new post, which included the caption: ‘I don’t want to add fuel to a fire. I just want to be able to give clarity to something so irresponsibly (but understandably) taken out of context. Spirited discourse – isn’t that what we should be having?’
The post itself read: ‘We’re forgetting the nuance of humanity, I can get angry about misogyny and racist rhetoric and ALSO very much agree that Charlie Kirk’s murder was absolutely disturbing and deplorable in every way imaginable.
‘No one should have to experience this level of violence. This country is grieving too many senseless and violent deaths and shootings. Can we agree on that at least?’
Piers Morgan Piers Morgan called the shooting ‘appalling’ (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)Meanwhile, Piers Morgan called the shooting ‘appalling’.
‘An appalling assault on free speech and democracy,’ he wrote on X. ‘Charlie always welcomed debate, with anyone. This is disgusting and heartbreaking. RIP Charlie.’
Jamie Lee CurtisJamie Lee Curtis broke down on a podcast while discussing Kirk’s death.
‘I’m going to bring something up with you just because it’s front of mind. Charlie Crist was killed two days ago,’ she said on Monday’s new episode of Marc Maron’s WTF podcast.
Maron corrected Curtis, ‘Kirk, not Crist.’
She quickly corrected herself: ‘Sorry, Kirk. I just call him Crist, I think, because of Christ, because of his deep belief.’
