Hollywood Reacts to Assassination of Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk; South Park Faces Backlash
According to CinemaDrame News Agency, Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old activist and political commentator who argued that there was no such place as “Palestine,” supported gun rights, but also claimed Jeffrey Epstein was a Mossad agent, was killed in a terrorist attack hours ago, leaving the United States in shock.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, star of the Terminator films, called Kirk’s assassination a “horrible tragedy,” writing: “Politics in this country has become a sickness, and it’s deadly. But don’t listen to the cynics who say there’s no cure. It is curable. It’s within us. We must find the right path and avoid extremism. If we can’t agree on anything else, we must agree that we should not resolve our differences with violence. This is a horrible tragedy.”
Chris Pratt, Schwarzenegger’s son-in-law and star of Guardians of the Galaxy, also reacted, writing: “Praying for Charlie Kirk, for his wife and young children, for our country. We need God’s mercy. God help us.”
Mark Hamill of Star Wars posted on Bluesky: “Horrifying. Sickening. Unacceptable. In a democracy, differences are settled through dialogue, ideas, and action—not hate, guns, and violence.”
Actress and singer Mandy Moore wrote on Instagram: “There is no place for political violence in this discourse.”
American singer Kid Rock posted: “God bless Charlie Kirk. A true patriot. Praying for him.” Actor Justine Bateman added: “Politicians, people act on your words. Be careful with what you say.”
Following the assassination, some conservative figures pointed the finger at Paramount and the animated series South Park. The Daily Express reported that the show had mocked Trump supporters, including Kirk, in the episode “Got a Nut”: “Cartman, in this episode, mimics Charlie’s style in debating with students.”
Paula Scanlan, a former University of Pennsylvania student, wrote on X: “I used to think the episode mocking Charlie on South Park was funny, but it isn’t. Why is only one side being targeted? Why do the media, Hollywood, and the entertainment industry so easily demonize right-wing figures? Enough is enough.”
Another X user wrote: “I hope Matt and Trey respond appropriately.” Another added: “Paramount and South Park have blood on their hands. I hope those episodes are taken down! Charlie Kirk was a hero and a friend to all patriots.”
U.S. President Donald Trump ordered all Americans to fly their flags at half-staff in Kirk’s honor.
Stephen King wrote: “The motive of the person who shot Charlie Kirk is unclear (though he may have been mentally unstable). What is clear is that this is yet another example of gun violence in America.”
Stephen Colbert, in a prerecorded message, said: “I’m old enough to personally remember the political violence of the 1960s, and I hope it’s clear to everyone in America that political violence doesn’t solve political disputes. Political violence only leads to more political violence. I sincerely pray this was just the reckless act of a madman and not a sign of what’s to come.”
Political commentator Matthew Dowd was fired from MSNBC after controversial remarks about Kirk’s death. On Wednesday night, he said: “He was one of the most divisive figures, especially among the younger, constantly promoting hate or targeting certain groups. And I always come back to the idea that hateful thoughts lead to hateful words and then to hateful actions. This is the environment we live in. An environment where you can’t think terrible things, then speak them out loud, and expect not to see terrible behavior. Unfortunately, this is the environment we live in.”
Jeremy Clarkson, former Top Gear host, wrote: “For the first time in my life, I’m horrified to be a newspaper columnist.”
Jimmy Kimmel added: “Instead of angrily pointing fingers at anyone, can we just agree for one day that shooting another human being is horrible and inhuman? With my family, I pray for the Kirk family, their children, their parents, and all the innocent people who have been victims of this stupid gun violence.”
