In the days following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, left-leaning author Stephen King reportedly became embroiled in controversy after spreading a demonstrably false claim about the slain Turning Point USA founder.
King shared a tweet alleging that Kirk had “advocated stoning gays to death. Just sayin.’”
The claim, quickly debunked, drew swift criticism from conservatives and social media users who cited evidence that Kirk consistently treated LGBTQ individuals with respect while maintaining socially conservative views.
Fans of Kirk were quick to push back. Conservative commentator Dave Rubin, who has interacted with Kirk personally, publicly challenged King’s assertion. “Hey [Stephen King], you are more monstrous than any of the characters you ever came up with. Charlie was never anything but kind to me and my husband,” Rubin wrote on X.
He continued, emphasizing Kirk’s civility and hospitality: “We broke bread many times, and he never treated us with anything other than respect. He even came to our house not too long ago and plot twist, didn’t throw rocks at us. Write about that sometime, you hack.”
Even X owner Elon Musk expressed incredulity at King’s post, remarking, “Why would Stephen King post something so blatantly false?” The misrepresentation of Kirk’s views stood in stark contrast to his public statements advocating inclusion within the conservative movement. Screenshots circulated on social media showed Kirk affirming, “I believe marriage is one man one woman. Also gay people should be welcome in the conservative movement. As Christians we are called to love everyone. I will always stand against people who wish to establish their own personal values as a reason to kick others out of the movement.”
The backlash against King intensified as supporters of Kirk shared additional clips and evidence of his respectful engagement with LGBTQ individuals, demonstrating that he had consistently welcomed diverse voices into conservative spaces.
This rapid and organized response highlighted the broader conservative community’s commitment to defending the reputations of leaders like Kirk, who had been targeted not only for his activism but for his outspoken defense of free speech and traditional values.
Facing mounting criticism and mounting evidence contradicting his claim, King issued an apology on Friday morning. “I apologize for saying Charlie Kirk advocated stoning gays. What he actually demonstrated was how some people cherry-pick Biblical passages,” the author wrote.
While King did not retract his engagement with the subject, the apology acknowledged the inaccuracy of his original statement and the harm it caused in misrepresenting a prominent conservative figure.
The episode underscores the heightened tensions and misinformation circulating on social media in the wake of Kirk’s assassination, as well as the vigilance of conservative communities in protecting the legacies of leaders who promote traditional values while welcoming respectful dialogue across ideological lines.
In this case, the swift fact-checking and vocal support from Kirk’s allies ensured that false narratives were corrected and that the public record reflected his actual positions and conduct.
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