Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead on Wednesday at the age of 31 while hosting a college event in Utah. Following the tragic incident, numerous creators, celebrities, and influencers took to social media to express their condolences and extend their prayers to Kirk’s family. The Late Show host Stephen Colbert and Guardians of the Galaxy actor Chris Pratt also acknowledged the gruesome nature of Kirk’s death.
Just before getting into his opening monlogue, where Colbert usually tears into president Donald Trump, he prepared a separate video addressing the Trump ally’s death. He said, “After the scripts of our tonight’s show were finalised, we learned that Charlie Kirk, a prominent right wing activist, was killed at a speaking engagement in Utah. Our condolocenses go to this family and loved ones. I am old enough to personally remember the poitical violence of the 1960s, and I hope it is obvious to everyone in America that this brand of violence doesn’t solve anything. I pray with all my heart, that this is the abberant actions of a mad-man and not a sign of things to come.”
Actor Chris Pratt took to social media and wrote on X (formerly twitter), “Praying for Charlie Kirk right now, for his wife and young children, for our country. We need God’s grace. God help us.”
Jimmy Kimmel, who along with Stephen Colbert has been extremely vocal against the Trump administration, wrote a long message on Instagram urging his followers to stop pointing fingers. He wrote, “Instead of angry finger-pointing, can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human? On behalf of my family, we send love to the Kirks and to all the children, parents and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence. On this day I remember Mellisa and Mark Hortman. On this day I remember the kids that were murdered in school shootings. On this day I remember the domestic abuse busting killed by their partner. May they rest in peace. Their deaths are endlessly ignored. Gun violence is awful.”
(The Indian express)
Even though Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert did not see eye to eye with Charlie Kirk in terms of their political ideology, they appealed to their viewers to raise their voice against political violence of any kind. Even talk show host Rosie O’ Donnell, who is one of the people who left America after Donald Trump became president condemned Kirk’s shooting and said, “No just no. Do not become the murderer. This is wrong on every level.”
