Charlie Kirk is Dead. Here’s Why I’m Celebrating!

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Most Mondays, Assigned Media runs the news aggregation column Leading Off. With the news dominated by the death of far-right podcaster Charlie Kirk, and amidst widespread fears of violence from the far right, we chose to feature this opinion column by our founder Evan Urquhart this week instead.

We’re not supposed to say it. It is terribly taboo. According to Reuters, at least 15 people have already been fired for saying it (reporting by NBC suggests it may be many more). And yet, and yet… there’s a stirring deep inside, a wild joy lifting our hearts, an impish gleam in our eyes as we say Charlie Kirk is dead.

How could anyone be sorry? How could anyone be mournful? A man who  kept a watchlist of professors whose views he disagreed with (one that spurred endless death and rape threats), is now dead! A man who supported the January 6 rioters that chanted calls to hang our vice president is dead! A man who called for his supporters to bail out the attempted murderer of one of his political rivals is dead! A vicious and committed racist is dead!

He claimed a passage in Leviticus said gay men should be stoned to death, calling this “God’s perfect law”*—and now he’s dead! In part, I am celebrating the fact that, however much evil remains in the world, at least nothing can ever bring him back. But mostly, I’m celebrating because he’s dead and I am still alive.

In normal times, I’d work to keep my schadenfreude at the death of a terrible person under wraps. The man has children, after all, and it would be a terrible thing if they were to learn how joyful their father’s death has made the people who he hurt. That’s why, in the first 24 hours after Kirk’s death, I kept decorum. I refrained from saying anything celebratory or even negative about this awful man. (Most people on the left did the same.)

These, however, are not normal times. These are times when the right to say something the far right finds offensive is under threat. It’s  under threat by the US government and by individuals in the far right who seek revenge. If they’re compiling a list of everyone who refuses to fellate the memory of the horrid, evil, violent, moon-faced turd then it’s a list I’d rather be on than off.

I am nothing if not a free speech absolutist. Freedom of expression is central to the ability of trans people to live our lives openly, freely, and with pride. And that’s why, however tasteless, however much I’d hesitate to say it in any normal circumstance, today I am determined to join the celebrants with my full chest.

All that said, let’s take a minute to be clear: There was no hotbed of violent transgender leftism that resulted in Kirk’s murder. Our community has always been peaceful, and only recently even begun considering the need for self-defense. Even if the young, white, male scion of a deep red state had a transgender partner (a claim that remains unverified by any reliable news organization), that is as irrelevant as the fact that his parents were Republicans. Attempts to blame the trans community on this pretext would be funny—if they weren’t putting us all in deadly peril.

For my part, I certainly never wanted Kirk to be shot—honestly I didn’t think about him much, except as one of a cadre of interchangeable dead-eyed far right toads. You know, the ones embracing Nazi analogies for the modern day US that casts them as the Nazis and trans people (and Jewish people, and immigrants, and Black Americans) as the Jews?

“This is our Reichstag fire!” they cried, as Kirk lay dead. Yes, you fucking freaks, we know.

I do not want and have never wanted any of them dead. I want them to chill out and be normal for the first time in their lives.

I know that some people who would usually be on my side may look askance at my strong words. But I have concluded that strong words are the only ones suited for this day. In the first months of Trump’s second term we’ve had far too many people tempering their tones, hoping to avoid the ire of the victorious far right. Each on our own we’ve been keeping our heads down, afraid to say the wrong thing, hoping things get better or, if they get worse (which we pretend not to expect), that we’ll be able to survive. As we cower we are losing the core freedoms that we learned in school made ours a country worthy of our love. We must be brave. We must not shrink.

That’s why I’ve chosen to depart from my normally measured tone. I have always believed in an American right to free speech which includes a right to be offensive. It’s not a right I’ve often exercised myself, but it is one I value highly, nonetheless. Today, this hallowed right is teetering on the brink. I think I’ll use it while I still have it, thank you very much.

Fuck Charlie Kirk, and fuck you, if you don’t like me saying fuck him. I’m not afraid to say I’m glad I’m still alive at 47 while he is dead at 31.

While I still can, I feel like celebrating.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story stated that Leviticus calls for gay men to be stoned to death. While it calls for gay men to be executed, the Bible does not specify a method. Kirk was misquoting the Bible when he stated his beliefs about gay men.

Evan Urquhart is the founder of Assigned Media.

273 thoughts on “Charlie Kirk is Dead. Here’s Why I’m Celebrating!”

  1. I agreed with what you said, fuck Charlie who and all he stood for, I never heard of him until he was shot but when I looked into his life I just saw another asshole. Good bye asshole Charles who, and to those who don’t agree to bad, it’s my right as a american to say and feel like I do.

  2. “I’m celebrating because he’s dead and I am still alive” …. such an ignorant statement. I’m Democrat. If anyone in Democratic Party passes away, there’s mourning. If anyone on the Republican Party passes away, there’s mourning. It’s ONE nation. Not a divided nation. Mocking and disrespecting a human being’s death NO MATTER Democratic or Republican reflects a lack of insensitivity and human decency. Who laughs and celebrates when a person dies, regardless of who it is, where they come from, which political party they belong to? I hope you mourned for the Democratic individuals that have passed away. I hope you did not celebrate their death. They had families too, just like yourself. Their deaths were not amusing or anything to celebrate. I hope you mourned for the victims of massacres and school shootings that took place.

    • I celebrate that nazis die and im still alive. Period. Apologies if you think this man is indicative of "republicans" and not the violent racist he actually is.

  6. God you need help dude. Seriously, you felt it necessary to voice this is deranged and psychotic. Ignorant af to you have no clue wtf. Get out of your bubble Jesus Christ and live life a little.

  8. This is CRAZY this lady needs help!! One more CRAZY liberal who should lose there job. His article sucked and is just the words of anything CRAZY person. Maybe get a new therapist and get the real help you need. Anyone who doesn’t even know what gender they are I would except nothing less. Wow just wow.

  9. Celebrating the death of someone who wanted to exercise free speech and claiming you love free speech is diabolical. I pray you’ll see the irony of that someday. Charlie doesn’t deserve people pathetically dancing on his grave like yourself.

  10. Cunts are big mad. It feels amazing to say this. Fuck charlie kirk. One less hate spewing magatatd cunt in the world.

    May he rot

  12. Evan, I looked at all your links and drew completely different conclusions from them. I think there is something broken in your brain/physiology if you truly believe your behavior is civilized. Maybe the demon inhabiting you right now agreed in his contract that he can only operate if he’s obvious. Or maybe the demon isn’t smart enough to hide his evil intensions.

  13. I don’t know Charlie kirk and I don’t give a fuck am I sorry he was murdered yesterday I would feel that about anyone who was murdered but this has got to stop. People being fired for making comments about him we are slowly loosing our freedoms here people. What about free speech. There is no longer any free speech in this country. Next there will only be 1 news stations, and 1 newspaper telling us what to think what to say but no true news of what’s going on. Wake up people, Trump keeps breaking laws our constitution rights. Soon he will be a dictator and no one is doing anything. Get this man out of office. Lock him up like the criminal he is before it’s to late. I have no idea how we got here….oh wait I do…you stupid fucks voted in a man that has no right being president. Talk about stupid

  14. I believe that in America, everyone is entitled to air their opinions freely, which is part of being in a free society. However, being happy that a human being has been shot exercising their freedom of opinion actually puts freedom of speech on the balance for everyone. If Charlie had physically assaulted you or come after you in the street, defending yourself would be your right. However, he didn’t all he did was say words and have opinions that you don’t like; that was it. It’s as if you have forgotten that just as you are allowed to exercise your right to write, which is actually disgusting and inhuman, Other people are allowed to say what they feel, too. I, however, do not wish you death or harm; actually, I pray that you have a blessed life and live long. Yet I disagree with everything you have to say about the Trans issue, but you have a right to say whatever you feel without fear of death. I realise that your side does not want open debate, what you actually want is everyone to agree with you and for us to accept a delusion and constantly beating ourselves if we get your pronouns wrong. You will not stop and you don’t care who gets shot as long as we bow the knee. You don’t want us ultimately to have freedom of choice or an opinion, no matter how much you state that the USA is a country that allows to have freedom of speech. What you want is a world that will accept the biological nonsense. You problem isn’t so much what Charlie and others are saying, is that there is a large majority who simply won’t go along with you, no matter how many times we are told we are committing violence by speaking biological facts. So yes, for you, I can understand how you’re over the moon and are happy that Charlie Kirk was shot by a complete coward.

    • Charlie Kirk’s opinions were that all trans people should be put through a Nuremberg style trial. He used his debates and social standing to try to make others agree with him. Of course people would be happy if a guy supporting their persecution is dead- it isn’t about bending the knee. If I (an Atheist) said you (presumably a Christian or Catholic) should be hung for your dirty unproven drivel about a higher being and (in my view) indoctrinating and poisoning the minds of children into believing your "biological nonsense" or whatever delusions you have and spent years fighting with religious people in churches even when they didn’t want me there, trying to convince others to agree with me so that these changes HAPPEN, you would "pray for my soul" and absolutely think I went to hell, or deserve to go to hell. The funny thing is that is pretty much the religious equivalent of being happy, grateful or feeling justified when somebody dies.

    • Except—words matter, Claudia. Especially the words we learn in history classes and the words that exist in Project 2025.

      Kirk was the marketer of this project. If you have not read Project 2025, then you are highly misinformed on the purpose of Kirk’s march towards Christian Nationalism—disguised as “discussion.”

      Target is not to silence and eliminate LGBTQ Americans, but also women and people of color.

      It is not about being “happy.”— It is the brain anticipating an intense reaction to the intense actions against anyone NOT like the evangelical, MAGAmerica GOP posers.

      This American internal conflict is also being watched by the world.

      Our 250 year old democracy is falling, failing.

      Kirk was the youth marketer for this Christian Nationalism.

      If folks were true believers, the obsession with other people’s privates would not exist. Evangelicals would not be worshipping a racist felonious child rapist.

      It is not a belief, it is a belonging.

    • Claudia…Would you like a list of the nasty, vicious pablum that Charles spewed from his poisonous mouth? Check "POLITIFACTS" They have everything you need to know.

  15. This is honestly just sad. The hypocrisy is unreal. What you’re essentially saying is that if someone holds an opinion you don’t like, and they’re murdered for it, then that’s worth celebrating. That logic is dangerous. Everyone has different viewpoints — you might see Charlie as hateful, but others might see the people cheering a murder as just as hateful. Disagreement doesn’t justify killing, and it should never be a cause for celebration.

    And about people losing jobs — that’s not a ‘free speech’ issue. The First Amendment protects speech from government censorship, not from workplace consequences. Employers don’t owe anyone a platform or job security just because they say something outrageous.

    For the record, I don’t agree with a lot of what Charlie has said either. But never once did I think someone’s death should be celebrated. That’s crossing a line. What’s really sad here is seeing people who claim to be the party of tolerance and inclusion become consumed with the very hate they say they stand against. This doesn’t reflect the true values of the Democratic Party.

  16. The left is finally taking a stand and I’m all for it. People in this comment section expect us to be quiet while they strip our rights or try to destroy us but its of the upmost importance we stay strong be loud and proud. Charlie Kirk is dead and this is a net positive for society. Period.

    • How sad of you to wish the death of an other human being. You are bring so many to the right by having these feelings. You scream for respect but you can’t give it yourself.
      I use to be a little left leaning but now I’m full right now.

      • ?? How does that even make sense? It’s the right that has since time immemorial wished death on others for their race, religion, sex, sexuality and desire to literally just exist without being persecuted. Make it make sense you absolute git.

      • Y’all would not exist or have “purpose” if you didn’t have hate for folks not like you. You project your dogma onto others. You need to think of people not like you as enemies so you can justify your own “sins” and have purpose. It is the scam of the millennium.

        There is nothing “republican” or “conservative” about MAGAmerica.

        Y’all have been conned.

  17. Your a fucking ugly peice of shit and if ever i met you in the streets I would fuck u up better watch your back you say us republicans are the disease with our gun rights and trannies aint facking the sex they claim they are dumbass you also look like a facking pedo good luck just watch your back you may just bleed out

  18. 100, you’ve got that right!! They’re are millions celebrating in silence with you. He was vile, evil, ungodly, disgusting. A win for humanity!

  19. Trump loves controversy, he loves attention, he doesn’t care what anyone thinks. He thinks he’s God. Trump doesn’t give two shits about Kirk. He only loves people who are loyal to him. He knows these religious zealots get whatever they want if they support him. The country is so messed up. Trump is all about hate. He supports hate. One less hater is good for America. Trump has zero faith. He thinks he’s God. He only loves himself. Wake up people!! Use the brain God gave you.

  20. One thing Charlie’s death is doing is bringing so many to the right that were on the fence who supported. We should thank you for really showing the ugliness of the left. You all have lost. If you can’t respect other people’s truths how can you expect others to support yours?

    • This comment is classic MAGAmerica projection. The assassin was one of your own.

      If you can’t adapt to change, how do you expect to survive?

    • Because the truths he espoused involved stripping rights and equal protection under the law from well over half the US population? The Final Solution was Hitler’s “truth”. The Great Leap Forward was Mao’s “truth”. Respecting and enabling these truths led to the deaths and subjugation of millions.

      Tolerance is a social contract. Conservatism is built on intolerance of those who do not submit themselves to the “rightful” social order. On their economic, social, and physical punishment. You violated the contract of tolerance, and are not owed the opportunity to leverage your human rights to strip those rights from the rest of us.

    • Being happy Charlie is dead is explicitly a Charlie level belief. Learn your master’s words to a higher level, you clearly just listened to the snippets, hanger-on

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