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Original poster

Had you heard of Charlie Kirk before yesterday?

1000 replies

Havetoagree · 11/09/2025 21:28

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?

OP posts:
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17
IcedPurple · 11/09/2025 22:08

ChelseaDetective · 11/09/2025 21:46

I’m 54, and hadn’t heard of him.

I'm about the same age,consider myself reasonably well informed, and had no clue who he was until yesterday. Still a bit baffled by all the attention and leaders around the world commenting on his death. Am somewhat relieved to hear I'm not the only one who had never heard of him.

Switcher · 11/09/2025 22:08

I hadn't . His ideas seem very disagreeable to me, but no one deserves to die for ideas.

Dramatic · 11/09/2025 22:09

Sometimeswinning · 11/09/2025 22:05

No he wasn’t. Everything he said he could back up with his faith, beliefs and a lot of common sense.

You said he didn’t care about the death of innocents and in that same breath said the same about a guy who has done you zero harm.

A human who was executed in public. To have zero fucks says an awful lot about your character.

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But why give him the grace that he wasn't willing to give for anyone else? Including school kids who died in school shootings?

MummytoBoth · 11/09/2025 22:09

No I hadn’t.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 11/09/2025 22:09

Yes, he is popular with teenagers, he was on DD's list as someone she dislikes, alongside Trump.
I reminded her love them or hate them, no-one deserves to die like that.

Crinkle77 · 11/09/2025 22:09

I hadn't until recently. His videos started popping up in my Insta reels although I didn't know his name I'd certainly watched a few. I googled his name this morning and I was like 😮

Hello39 · 11/09/2025 22:09

Never heard of him but I'm not on Twitter/X since Musk ruined it and don't follow American politics.

Dh does and watched the clip of the shooting and regretted it - so horrific and graphic.

Really sorry to hear so many teens and young adults have watched it.

theDudesmummy · 11/09/2025 22:09

I am 62, quite far left. Had heard of him and knew I vehemently opposed everything he said and felt saddened by such an articulate and intelligent young man holding such abhorrent views. I also don't believe in the death penalty under any circumstances.

SouthernBelle21 · 11/09/2025 22:09

I hadn't, but DP watched him on YouTube regularly. It doesn't matter whether you agreed with him or not. Those who've mentioned that are missing the point. You should be allowed to share an opinion/POV without getting murdered.

FKAT · 11/09/2025 22:11

Dramatic · 11/09/2025 22:06

But he thought people should be shot, he'd literally say his own death was worth it.

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I'm not clear what you are saying? Did you mean Charlie Kirk said he would be happy to be shot for his views because he believed in freedom to bear arms? Have you got a citation for that?

Reallynotsure25 · 11/09/2025 22:11

NotMyNigelFarage · 11/09/2025 22:05

Rather you just kept it to yourself tbh.

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it’s public forum? Get over yourself

MummytoBoth · 11/09/2025 22:11

User37482 · 11/09/2025 21:53

Yes, I didn’t agree with his views but it was a refreshing change to see someone willing to engage with people he disagreed with vs banging pans outside a debate like a giant toddler.

The reality is we have got so used to people shutting down debate rather than just having it. I saw this with women's rights issues. If you went on the BBC and you were a perfectly reasonable person (thinking people like Helen Joyce) you would still be painted as a bigot and extremist.

Our society is full of children who can’t cope with disagreement and celebrate the death of people we disagree with because we have lost all moral reason (I’m an atheist btw). Grown adults crow over murder as if it were a video game and not a human life. I thought his views on abortion were frankly dehumanising to women and girls. I think he was brilliant and exposing the shallowness of identity politics. I could hold both thoughts in my head at the same time and not be happy he died. We have become so debased as a society that people actually celebrate murder publicly with no sense of shame whatsoever.

I’ve also been thinking about how we use the word tolerance. People keep using the word inaccurately. They talk about tolerance for people they have no problem with and often agree with. We are only actually tolerant with people we disagree with, we refrain from harming them and despite the gulf of opinion Between someone like Charlie Kirk and me he demonstrated that by actually speaking to them. Often they failed to articulate their ideas well because they lived in bubbles where they never had to justify their beliefs. But we need that as a society, we need people to be able to articulate their positions and to be able to debate effectively. We rely too much on emotion and censure.

Nailed it. What a post…totally agree.

Cleopatcher · 11/09/2025 22:11

I hadn't and have spoken to quite a few people that hadn't.

His podcasts, videos, debates and conversations will have now have been reached by millions more people than before he was murdered.

I hope that really pisses the psycho shooter off.

JaneJeffer · 11/09/2025 22:12

Yeah I’d seen him on YouTube and wasn’t impressed (to put it mildly)

InWalksBarberalla · 11/09/2025 22:12

Shessweetbutapsycho · 11/09/2025 22:07

i hadn’t heard of him before yesterday, but have heard plenty since… which leads me to ask those saying he was an intelligent man and they respected his content, do you mind me asking what it was exactly about what he said that you respected? I only ask as his views seemed (in my opinion) to be largely abhorrent on a variety of issues.

I didn't agree with his views but I agreed with hus focus on debate:

“When people stop talking, that’s when you get violence,” Kirk said in the clip. When people stop talking, “that’s when civil war happens, because you start to think the other side is so evil and they lose their humanity.”

“What we have to get back to is being able to have a reasonable disagreement where violence is not an option.”

“When things are moving very fast and people are losing their minds, it’s important to stay grounded,” Kirk wrote on X. “Turn off your phone, read scripture, spend time with friends, and remember internet fury is not real life. It’s going to be ok.”

Shessweetbutapsycho · 11/09/2025 22:12

Chocolatebiscuit90 · 11/09/2025 22:05

I’m stunned at how many people thought he was a “good man” and respected his views. Do you know what he actually said?

Here are some quotes.

“if I see a Black pilot, I’m going to be like boy, I hope he’s qualified.”

”Reject feminism. Submit to your husband. You’re not in charge.”

And “the baby would be delivered” when asked if he would support his 10 year old daughter if she was raped and wanted an abortion.

"I think it’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment.”

Gun control, vaccines, and face masks were about "taking freedoms away from others" and urged his followers, "Don't fall for it."

“I think empathy is a made up, new age term”

And SO much more hateful, scary stuff.

People on here really think those are good POVs? His views were harmful. He was a bigot and an extremist.

Reading that people on this thread like what he said really frightens me.

Thank you for summarising some of the things I’d seen reported, I’m genuinely confused by the numbers here saying he was intelligence respectful

Newton161 · 11/09/2025 22:12

I’m late 40’s and knew of him. One thing he has achieved is to shine a light on how disgusting many on the left are.

He was a decent man. The reaction to his murder says a lot more about many posters than I suspect they realise.

pinkstripeycat · 11/09/2025 22:13

Dh and I are early 50s and we watched him on instagram

popcornandpotatoes · 11/09/2025 22:13

I didn't think I had but I realise now i did see a video of someone saying if their preteen daughter was pregnant by rape she would have to carry the baby to term

Disgusting human and sorry no I don't give two shiny shits. The things he said weren't 'different views' they were vile hate and he knew what he was doing. Live by the sword and all that (or rather love guns get shot)

Willyoujustbequiet · 11/09/2025 22:13

PrescriptionOnlyMedicine · 11/09/2025 21:34

Yes. I’m in my 50s.

I didn’t agree with his views at all and thought he was an appalling person. But I take no pleasure in what happened. I am very sorry for his family.

This.

It's desperately sad of course, tragic for his family. But he held appalling views on women, including that a 12 year old rape victim should have to give birth.

The wave of adulation that is conveniently sweeping his misogynistic views under the carpet is sickening tbh.

MasterBeth · 11/09/2025 22:13

Newton161 · 11/09/2025 22:12

I’m late 40’s and knew of him. One thing he has achieved is to shine a light on how disgusting many on the left are.

He was a decent man. The reaction to his murder says a lot more about many posters than I suspect they realise.

Racism and misogyny are never decent.

Dramatic · 11/09/2025 22:13

FKAT · 11/09/2025 22:11

I'm not clear what you are saying? Did you mean Charlie Kirk said he would be happy to be shot for his views because he believed in freedom to bear arms? Have you got a citation for that?

Show quote history

He said gun deaths were worth it, that the right to bear arms was worth all the gun deaths that happen every year. So unless he was saying that everyone but him could be collateral damage and it was worth it then he was very much saying he'd be happy to die so that Americans can keep their guns.

Trumpthecant · 11/09/2025 22:14

SouthernBelle21 · 11/09/2025 22:09

I hadn't, but DP watched him on YouTube regularly. It doesn't matter whether you agreed with him or not. Those who've mentioned that are missing the point. You should be allowed to share an opinion/POV without getting murdered.

No I disagree. This does not mean you can just stand up and start say “ i hate insert racist term for a group of people’ and claiming ‘free speech’ sounds very hitler-esque to me. That’s not how civilised societies work. Actions and words have consequences.

edited spelling

Travelfairy · 11/09/2025 22:14

Yes, watched him regularly. Didn't agree with many of his views but am shocked and saddened by the brutal assassination of a 31 year old father of 2 💔

RogueFemale · 11/09/2025 22:14

Havetoagree · 11/09/2025 21:28

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?

No, never heard of him. Then I read a bit about him, such as pro-gun, and pro-MAGA, and was surprised at the overall reaction. Yes of course murder is very wrong and I condemn murder.

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