Page 13 | Had you heard of Charlie Kirk before yesterday?

Havetoagree · 2025-09-11T20:28:21+00:00

Just that really? I hadn’t and wondering if I’m the only one. And why is it such a big story? I guess the association with trump. What would be the equivalent level of fame over here?

ZamaZama · 11/09/2025 22:44

PrizedPickledPopcorn · 11/09/2025 22:28

Are you not concerned at the attack on free speech?

I’m sad about the man, as well, despite not agreeing with him about much. You don’t have to be sad if you disliked him, but surely your concerned about the implications of this murder?

Show quote history

Yes, I find the attack very concerning. Not least because of how this figure is now being rewritten to minimise or rationalise his work. (I will not say ‘opinions’ as he was in the business of shaping others’ opinions.)

Nor do I think assassinating someone who doesn’t pose an immediate threat to life and limb is remotely justifiable.

That isn’t the same as being sad, though. And not being sad is ok.

Pruveil · 11/09/2025 22:44

No I hadn’t. But retrospectively, some of his view aligned, with mine, others didn’t.

Idinnaenah · 11/09/2025 22:44

TheSwarm · 11/09/2025 22:40

He was a deeply unpleasant man who travelled around "debating" children who were unable to deal with someone presenting high-school level arguments about women's rights, gun control and right-wing extremism with a veneer of authority and articulation. When faced with people who could see through his bullshit he always came unstuck. His arguments on gun control were fucking laughable.

Nobody deserves to be killed for that, obviously, but I'm not particually sad that there is one less person like him in the world.

This. It’s terrifying how divisive the USA is now, people like Kirk are thriving on fear and hatred. Or he was.
No one should be killed for their views, and yet so many are under threat because of the kind of extreme rhetoric he dealt in.

youwillalwaysbe · 11/09/2025 22:45

Yes, I’ve followed him on Instagram for a long time. I didn’t agree with everything he said but I loved his passion for open debate and how he always treated people with respect. Even when people came to the mic and hurled abuse at him he’d just smile and wave them on. After Butler, PA, Charlie was advised to not do outdoor events but he genuinely enjoyed the face to face engagements with students so he beefed up his security but declined to not hide away.

I would gently suggest that those who think he was a terrible person haven’t actually watched much of his stuff. Yes he said some controversial things but he also spoke a lot of sense and he never tried to force his views on people. He would encourage them to research their facts and to learn how to think critically.

I was surprised today to discover how many teens and tweens had heard of him. Was surprised to get a text from my 11 year old nephew - had no idea he even knew who Charlie was.

Thumbelina9 · 11/09/2025 22:45

Yes, I’m sad for his children but thought his views appalling so am struggling to feel sad. For example his views on abortion and gun violence - I don’t actually care how well they are articulated, I still think he is wrong. Personally, I also similarly wouldn’t mourn Andrew Tate or Nigel Farage.

Bruminbrum · 11/09/2025 22:45

MeTooOverHere · 11/09/2025 22:42

I'm 62. I'd heard of him of course - one of the right wing white supremacists who wants to wind back everything to the 1930's or further.
His views were broadly divisive, racist, xenophobic, and extreme.

Christian nationalist. Against the separation of church and state.
In a 2023 speech, he said that "all men are created equal in the eyes of God, all men and women, but not all cultures are created equal. To say that, you get attacked in every direction, but excuse me when I say that Western civilization is the best that humanity has produced. It’s an outgrowth of the Bible."

Anti abortion, anti birth control and pro early marriage and child bearing for women. Reckons women hit the wall at 30 although he then married a 33yo. Strongly Biblical in his views of the roles of men, women and marriage.

School shootings were just an unfortunate side effect of everyone being allowed to have guns.

Show quote history

That’s a succinct summary of some of his highlights for all those claiming he was ‘respectful’ I don’t know how someone who holds the views that you’ve very succinctly summarised could ever ben termed respectful.

oh he smiled when he spat in my face… so respectful

Septemberain25 · 11/09/2025 22:45

I was aware that he'd said that if his 10 year old daughter was raped and pregnant, he would make her carry to term.

Didn't know that he's said that school shootings were collateral damage he could accept for the right to bear arms. Reminds me of that Alanis Morriset song.

Didn't know he was so close to Trump, didn't know that Mumsnet would close down multiple threads on his death because of criticism of his actions in pushing an anti-woman hard-right political agenda. Don't speak ill of dead facists.

Aspoonfulofnutella · 11/09/2025 22:45

I hadn’t heard of him. I get the speculation about the motive and understand he was a divisive figure, but some are taking it as fact that he was shot because of his politics. I agree it’s highly likely, but it’s not known yet.

GladioliGreen · 11/09/2025 22:46

No. Tbh I thought from the coverage of his death he was a politician, I didn't realise that in the US they fly flags at half mast for influencers but not assisinated lawmakers.

Dramatic · 11/09/2025 22:46

User37482 · 11/09/2025 22:32

He’s am american, it’s in his constitution, it’s a completely different culture. Equally if you believe it’s ok for people to be murdered for their speech, that applies to everyone, not just people we disapprove of. I don’t agree with his beliefs, I think more people should have been able to construct reasonable arguments against his views. The reality is he was good at debating because it’s a skill the left/centre and centre right have lost the ability to debate. I’ve watched the videos of garbled arguments relying on sentimental nonsense put forward by his opponents,I’m not surprised he did as well as he did frankly.

The left is intellectually empty, no sane person would have claimed transwomen are literally women and thought they could actually supoort that position in reasoned debate for example. It’s a nonsense. We have lost reason and common sense. Instead of being mad at him for what he saod the question should be why do we not have better arguments? Why do we rely on cancellation, mockery and snideness instead of authentic good faith arguments.

The women’s rights issues of recent years demonstrate exactly this. How many feminists have been called all sorts but ultimately rational argument is winning out not “ewww what a bigot”.

Show quote history

I'm not saying I think it's ok for people to be murdered, what I'm saying is that it's fine for people to feel indifferent about his murder, or not care at all.

Firefly1987 · 11/09/2025 22:47

I'm 37 and had never heard of him, not even in passing have I ever once come across his name. But then I don't follow American politics at all. I did wonder how well known he was in the UK so this thread has been interesting. I'm shocked and saddened to hear of someone so young dying in such a senseless way.

LillyPJ · 11/09/2025 22:47

No, I hadn't heard of him - and I'm glad I hadn't. From the bits I've heard and read today, I don't think we'd have agreed on many subjects.

Yoojo · 11/09/2025 22:47

Yes I had, I was really shocked when I heard the news, for me he seems quite famous. For some reason my algorithm was full of his clips for a while - and Jordan Petersen and Ben Shapiro etc. I don't know why, I'm definitely not their demographic I'd say but it was interesting to hear their opinions I guess

VanCleefArpels · 11/09/2025 22:49

NotTerfNorCis · 11/09/2025 22:36

The reality is he was good at debating

I saw a video of him 'debating' this morning and it wasn't really debating, it was talking over his opponent and constantly shutting them down. Maybe that's a kind of 'debating' if all you want is to make people think you won.

Listen to the Gavin Newsome podcast conversation

Timeforabitofpeace · 11/09/2025 22:50

No, and good, because he sounds awful.

HellsBells67 · 11/09/2025 22:50

I'm late fifties and loved him. Ds21 also a long term fan. We are very upset, not just at his horrific murder but at the outpouring of bile from the far Left dancing on his grave.

Dramatic · 11/09/2025 22:51

Underthinker · 11/09/2025 22:35

I had watched many of his short video clips that popped up on social media. In some I sided with him and in some the students he debated.

I don't doubt over his life he said a few things that qualify as genuinely awful, but I also know that in at least some of the examples cited in these threads, his words have been deliberately twisted or taken out of context to make them sound far worse than they were (because I've seen the original clips).

I am disappointed that there are people here who must be deliberately and knowingly lying to defame a recently murdered man.

I'd love to know what words of his have been twisted.

Dramatic · 11/09/2025 22:51

HellsBells67 · 11/09/2025 22:50

I'm late fifties and loved him. Ds21 also a long term fan. We are very upset, not just at his horrific murder but at the outpouring of bile from the far Left dancing on his grave.

You weren't upset by the years of him spouting bile?

MeTooOverHere · 11/09/2025 22:52

Aspoonfulofnutella · 11/09/2025 22:45

I hadn’t heard of him. I get the speculation about the motive and understand he was a divisive figure, but some are taking it as fact that he was shot because of his politics. I agree it’s highly likely, but it’s not known yet.

Why else would he be shot? At a public speaking event for his political views.

Thefastandthecurious5 · 11/09/2025 22:52

I had, yes - but from a teen. Otherwise I’d have had no idea who he was.

DdraigGoch · 11/09/2025 22:52

Cleopatcher · 11/09/2025 22:16

Also, the leftie maniac that took this man's life has caused unnecessary, horrific trauma to not only his two innocent children but also to billions of children across the world that will have seen the footage.

Well done mate, what a hero you are.

Edited

I don't think that Charlie would be too concerned about children witnessing executions.

Had you heard of Charlie Kirk before yesterday?

DiscoBob · 11/09/2025 22:52

No. I still don't really know anything about him. Other than he was killed, and he's right wing.

FKAT · 11/09/2025 22:53

JaneJeffer · 11/09/2025 22:35

Where would you rather live?

Show quote history

Not sure what that's got to do with anything? I was simply pointing out that Europe has it's own strand of anti-free speech violence. Just because we have anti gun laws doesn't mean we're immune.

HellsBells67 · 11/09/2025 22:53

Dramatic · 11/09/2025 22:51

You weren't upset by the years of him spouting bile?

Show quote history

I don't consider it bile. That's the beauty of free speech, we are free to speak it and free to disregard it. Without killing someone.

Ruby1985 · 11/09/2025 22:53

PickUpYourCross · 11/09/2025 21:32

Yes, 42 here. Have watched him for a while. I'm gutted, incredible man.

Not really incredible to be fair at all