Actress Amanda seyfried is defending a critical comment she made regarding the late Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning point USA, following his fatal shooting in September. seyfried, who called Kirk “hateful” on social media after his death, reaffirmed her stance in a recent interview with *Who What Wear*, sparking renewed discussion about public commentary on individuals-even after their death-and the scrutiny celebrities face for their online activity. The incident underscores the complexities of public discourse in the wake of tragedy and the challenge of navigating online reactions [[2]].
NEED TO KNOW
- Amanda Seyfried called Charlie Kirk “hateful” in the comments of an Instagram post following his death.
- Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at a campus event in Utah on September 10.
- Seyfried said she would not “f———-“ apologize for her comment and reaffirmed her position in a recent interview with Who What Wear published on Wednesday, December 10.
Amanda Seyfried is standing by her assessment of the late Charlie Kirk, refusing to walk back a comment she made calling him “hateful” after his death.
Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent right-wing political commentator, was shot and killed during an event at Utah State University on September 10.
Following the news of Kirk’s passing, Seyfried, 40, left a comment on an Instagram post about the shooting, stating simply, “He was hateful.” The comment sparked immediate backlash, prompting the actress to offer further context in a September 17 Instagram post.
“We’re forgetting the nuance of humanity,” Seyfried wrote. “I can get angry about misogyny and racist rhetoric and ALSO very much agree that Charlie Kirk’s murder was absolutely disturbing and unimaginable. No one should have to experience this level of violence. This country is grieving too many senseless and violent deaths and shootings. Can we agree on that at least?”
“I don’t want to add fuel to a fire,” she continued. “I just want to be able to give clarity to something so irresponsibly (but understandably) taken out of context. Spirited discourse- isn’t that what we should be having?”
In a new interview with Who What Wear, the Oscar nominee doubled down on her initial statement. The conversation highlights the ongoing debate surrounding public figures and the scrutiny they face online.
“I’m not f—— apologizing for that,” Seyfried told the outlet. “I mean, for f—- sake, I commented on one thing. I said something that was based on actual reality and actual footage and actual quotes. What I said was pretty damn factual, and I’m free to have an opinion, of course.”
“Thank God for Instagram,” she added. “I was able to give some clarity, and it was about getting my voice back because I felt like it had been stolen and recontextualized—which is what people do, of course.”
Kirk was hosting his “Prove Me Wrong” event as part of his American Comeback Tour on the Utah State University campus in Orem when the shooting occurred on September 10.
Mike Coppola/Getty
Tyler Robinson is currently facing multiple charges, including aggravated murder, in connection with Kirk’s death. According to an indictment filed on September 16, Robinson allegedly told his parents “that he couldn’t go to jail and just wanted to end it.”
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Sergeant Ray Ormond of the Utah County Sheriff’s Office previously stated in an email that Robinson is being held in the “Special Housing Unit,” where inmates are required to wear a suicide prevention smock at all times.
“Our special housing unit does include being on a special watch protocol that includes more supervision and wearing the above smock,” Ormond added.
In the wake of Kirk’s death, his widow, Erica Kirk, has stepped into his role at Turning Point USA.
