Liberals have been accused of ‘celebrating’ the assassination of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk – with Brendan Cox warning left-wing commentators must ‘tone down the temperature’.
Mr Kirk, a married father-of-two, was struck in the neck by a single bullet while speaking about mass shootings at a university campus in Utah yesterday, with US President Donald Trump hailing him as ‘legendary’ in a tribute.
While his assassination has sparked an outpouring of tributes, it has also led to accusations that the left are underplaying his death because of his political views.
The BBC has come under fire over its ‘distasteful’ coverage of the killing after inviting Democratic strategist Joi Chaney onto the panel, who stunned audiences when she said the right-wing commentator ‘wasn’t admired and loved by all’.
While speaking about Mr Kirk, Ms Chaney appeared to laugh and mockingly remarked: ‘I’ve never shared a Trump post in my life. I will contemplate sharing this one. But what I will say with a caveat. He wasn’t admired and loved by all, so that’s an exaggeration.’
The presenter and another panellist were left visibly shocked, with an audible gasp heard before Ms Chaney was allowed to continue.
She added: ‘The truth is it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter whether he was loved, I understand why President Trump said it. I’m not critiquing it.
‘But what I’m saying is we don’t have to like and admire someone to want to believe that they get to go out and speak and share their views in front of people who support them and who don’t support them.’
Left-wing writer Nels Abbey sparked a furious response after comparing Mr Kirk to the ex-leader of the Ku Klux Klan – while Labour MPs who shared tributes were told to ‘sit this one out’ amid growing anger over free speech in the UK.
Reacting to the response from liberals online, Mr Cox – whose Labour MP wife Jo Cox was murdered in 2016 – told the Mail that America must use this moment to ‘tone down the temperature, rather than turn it up even further’.
This is the moment Joi Chaney sparked outrage after she began laughing and saying Charlie Kirk ‘wasn’t admired and loved by all’
During its rolling coverage of the killing, the broadcaster invited Democratic strategist Joi Chaney, pictured, onto the panel
Mr Kirk, a married father of two, was struck in the neck by a single bullet while speaking about mass shootings at a university campus in Utah yesterday
The BBC clip was swiftly shared across social media, sparking outrage at both Ms Chaney’s comments and the BBC’s for airing them so soon after the killing.
One user was quick to slam the commentator, saying: ‘Shame on you, you evil being!
‘I think that millions around the world disagree with your take. He was loved, celebrated, educated, gifted. Charlie is dead. Don’t celebrate that. Don’t laugh at that.’
Another user shared in the outage, saying: ‘Couldn’t believe it when I heard this on the BBC. Why did they even have this Democrat, Joi Chaney, on the programme?
‘She was laughing at the death of Charlie Kirk. Pure evil.’
Another user questioned why the broadcaster would allow this moment on the show, saying it was ‘absolutely sick’ and ‘completely immoral and insensitive’.
Another added: ‘If individuals like this are given the chance to speak on national television, this is what will happen.
‘Her choice of words and tone suggests she’s glad the man is gone. such a weak and heartless person.’
The BBC has been approached for comment.
Meanwhile, on Good Morning Britain, left-wing writer Nels Abbey sparked outrage after comparing Mr Kirk to David Duke, the former leader of the Ku Klux Klan.
During a debate on Good Morning Britain, fellow guest Michael Gove described Mr Kirk as ‘a sort of Cicero for the TikTok age’, adding that it was ‘the latest political assassination to afflict America’.
But Mr Abbey intervened to say: ”Can I just say something? I don’t believe he was a Cicero for the TikTok age, I believe he was a David Duke for the TikTok age.’
When host Kate Garraway asked him to clarify who Duke was, he replied: ‘He was the former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan.
‘Now, this is by no means trying to justify his murder. Political violence is wrong at home; it’s wrong abroad. Political violence must be condemned, as must the propagandising for political violence and the dehumanisation of people.
‘Charlie Kirk was somebody who… I shiver, particularly for Conservatives when he’s described as Conservative, because he wasn’t. He was quite clearly and comfortably a supremacist.’
Another post which sparked a backlash was from left-wing activist, Mr Oluwole, who said: ‘The same people who spent the last two years telling us to treat the murder of 80,000 in Gaza as an acceptable and justified loss are about to get real precious about the sanctity of one human life.’
The BBC has come under fire for its coverage of the Charlie Kirk assassination
Another post which caught the attention of users was from left-wing activist Femi Oluwole
Brendan Cox, the widowed husband of murdered MP Jo Cox, sparked a backlash for saying ‘political violence increases sympathy for those attacked’
But others thought this was the wrong time for comparisons to the conflict, with one user replying: ‘So Femi, his young kids have now no father, his wife no husband, their world has ended today, and those kids will see that one day and that poor woman has probably already seen the moment their childhood ended. I get your anger for Gaza, but where’s the empathy right now?’
Another user said: ‘You have really proven why people do not like you… Awful Awful human being… Every life matters, but for you to dismiss even one life when you pretend to care about others is hypocrisy.. RIP Charlie Kirk’.
Brendan Cox, the widowed husband of murdered MP Jo Cox, also sparked a backlash with his reaction to the attack on Mr Kirk.
Retweeting a post which said ‘we must never allow America to become a country that confronts [political] disagreements with violence, Mr Cox wrote: ‘Political violence doesn’t win the argument, it just increases sympathy for those attacked. This is a despicable attack – whoever carried it out.’
Responding with fury, one user said: ‘Your own wife was murdered, and this is your response?’
Another said: ‘You may want to re-read this.’
And a third posted: ‘I would have expected better from you of all people. This is a man, a husband and a father he and his family deserve every sympathy regardless of where he stands politically and he has never preached violence quite the opposite. People on the left are celebrating his death and making excuses.’
When it emerged Mr Kirk had been killed, Mr Cox – whose wife was stabbed to death by far-right loner Thomas Mair in June 2016 – added: ‘Charlie Kirk has been killed. Absolutely horrific. Absolutely wrong.’
Speaking to the Mail, he clarified his comments and called for America to ‘tone down the temperature’.
Mr Cox condemned online trolls celebrating Mr Kirk’s murder, while praising senior Democrat figures such as Barack Obama, the Clintons and Nancy Pelosi for paying tribute.
‘On top of that very personal impact on Charlie’s family, you’ve got the impact on American politics which is already in a very difficult place.
‘What I remember from when Jo was killed, was Britain as a country coming together right across politicians while trying to tone down tensions. I’m not sure that’s what we’re seeing in the US.
‘You’ve got really strong statements from high profile Democrats, saying this is outrageous and unconscionable.
‘But you’ve definitely got people on the left joking about it or making snide comments.
‘And we saw similar issues from the right when two Democrats were killed [Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and husband Mark in January this year].’
Mr and Mrs Cox had two children together, with son Cuillin five at the time of her murder in Leeds and daughter Lejla aged three.
He added: ‘What America needs to do now is use this as a moment to tone down the temperature, rather than turn it up even further.
‘But I’m not particularly hopeful of that, knowing what’s happening online.
‘There are lots of tweets about civil war, lots of jokes – not the best way to honour the death of Charlie.
‘This can be incredibly dangerous, in a febrile atmosphere – and where the availability of guns changes the risk of violence.
‘When Nancy Pelosi’s husband was attacked, Donald Trump Jr was sending out memes and jokes about it. Now we’re seeing similar from the left, although not such high-profile people.
‘These are very serious moments and if the country can’t use those to come together, then I think it’s in a very parlous state.’
Labour politicians have also come under attack amid recent anger over the crackdown of free speech in the UK.
After Sir Keir Starmer posted a tribute to Mr Kirk, one user wrote: ‘You would have had him locked up if he was from the UK.’
Another said: ‘If he were British you would have done everything in your power to imprison him. Sit this one out.’
And responding to a tribute from Yvette Cooper, a third posted: ‘If he was British, you would’ve arrested him. What a hypocrite!’
The assassination has sparked fear among those with outspoken views, including former Top Gear host and columnist Jeremy Clarkson who wrote: ‘For the first time in my life, I’m genuinely frightened about being a newspaper columnist.’
Sir Keir Starmer came under fire, with many saying Kirk would have been arrested in the UK amid an ongoing row over free speech in Britain
Yvette Cooper was also told to ‘sit this one out’
The assassination has sparked fear among those with outspoken views, including former Top Gear host and columnist Jeremy Clarkson who wrote: ‘For the first time in my life, I’m genuinely frightened about being a newspaper columnist.’
It comes as a manhunt is underway for the conservative commentator’s killer.
Mr Kirk was surrounded by students at the American University when he was shot dead in the neck.
Moments before the shot, a figure in dark clothing is seen motionless on the roof of a nearby building – roughly 200 yards from Mr Kirk – just moments before the shot rang out.
As the camera pans across the crowd, the assassin is seen standing up and running across the rooftop and away, presumably joining the crowds of panicked people who fled the square.
Two people were initially detained but later were released after interrogation.
An elderly man was initially taken into custody by police following the shooting but was later released after being confirmed not to be the gunman.
On Wednesday evening, FBI Director Patel announced that authorities had taken a person of interest into custody, but confirmed the suspect was released just over an hour later following a police interrogation (pictured: Kirk before shooting)
Security protocols and local police at the event are now facing fierce backlash, with attendees claiming there were no security measures in place – no checkpoints, bag checks, or metal detectors to get inside (pictured: Kirk speaking before shooting)
Another video shared to X, captured in the moments after the shooting from what appears to be from inside a campus building, pans across the room – and in a brief moment, an individual can be seen sprinting across the same rooftop (pictured)
FBI agents are now working with the local police to track down the killer, with Utah Gov. Spencer Cox vowing to catch the murderer and suggesting the shooter will face the death penalty.
‘To whoever did this: We will find you. We will try you and we will hold you accountable to the furthest extent of the law.’
A UK offshoot of a US conservative group set up by Mr Kirk is set to hold a vigil in London today.
Turning Point UK has said its activists will gather on Friday evening by the Montgomery Statue in Whitehall and called on others to ‘join us in remembering Charlie’.
The group’s chief executive Jack Ross told Sky News on Wednesday: ‘It’s absolutely shocking, we’re heartbroken over here in the UK.’
Political figures in the UK spoke out against political violence following Mr Kirk’s death.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed his condolences online, adding: ‘My thoughts this evening are with the loved ones of Charlie Kirk.
‘It is heartbreaking that a young family has been robbed of a father and a husband.
‘We must all be free to debate openly and freely without fear – there can be no justification for political violence.’
Kim Leadbeater, whose sister Jo Cox was killed in 2016 when she was shot and stabbed by a neo-Nazi outside her constituency surgery a week before the EU referendum, wrote: ‘This is dreadful.
‘Whatever our political views and differences, there is no place for violence in our politics.
‘Tonight two children have lost their Dad. Devastating. We need a global reset on what we want our politics to look like.’
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, who said she is ‘deeply shocked’ by the killing, added: ‘Political violence has no place in our societies.
‘Our thoughts and condolences are with his family.’
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch describing the shooting as ‘a blow to everything Western civilization stands for’.
She posted online: ‘There are no words good enough to express the horror of this.
‘The killing of Charlie Kirk is a blow to everything Western civilization stands for: open discourse, robust debate and peaceful dissent. He lived his life by those very principles, no matter the danger it put him in.
‘This may have happened far from our shores, but the rising intolerance of opposing views affects us all. We cannot turn a blind eye to it.
‘My thoughts are with Charlie’s family, his wife Erika, and their children.’
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage posted a black and white photograph of himself with Mr Kirk, along with the message ‘this is a very dark day for American democracy’.
He added that he is ‘desperately sad’ for Mr Kirk, his wife and children.
Former Tory prime minister Boris Johnson believes Mr Kirk is now ‘a shining new martyr to free speech’ and described the killing as ‘a tragedy, and a sign of the utter desperation and cowardice of those who could not defeat him in argument’.
He posted online: ‘Charlie Kirk has been killed not for espousing extremist views – because he didn’t.
‘He has been killed for saying things that used to be simple common sense. He has been killed because he had the courage to stand up publicly for reasonable opinions held by millions and millions of ordinary people both in the US and Britain. The world has a shining new martyr to free speech.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones.’
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey added: ‘Absolutely horrifying news of Charlie Kirk’s murder. Political violence should have no place in society.
‘My prayers are with his family, I can’t imagine the pain they must be going through.’
In a US press conference, Utah Governor Spencer Cox said the attack was a ‘political assassination’.
President Trump was quick to express his sadness at the tragedy, calling Mr Kirk a ‘martyr for truth and freedom’.
‘Charlie was the best of America and the monster who was attacking him was attacking our whole country’, he said, before ordering flags on US government buildings to be lowered to half-staff, including three at the White House.
He added in another post: ‘The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie.
‘He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us.
‘Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!’
President Donald Trump announced Kirk’s death on Truth Social nearly five hours hours later, offering his sympathies to his wife and family
The conservative commentator was struck in the neck by a single bullet while addressing the crowd about mass shootings (pictured)
The shooting occurred just after 12pm local time, while Kirk was answering his second question on the topic of mass shootings – specifically, whether he knew how many had involved a transgender shooter
The father-of-two (pictured with family), known for his fierce MAGA views and thrilling debates with college kids across the country, collapsed immediately after being hit by gunfire
During a press conference, Utah Governor Spencer Cox reiterated that authorities did have ‘a person of interest in custody, who is being interviewed right now.’
‘I want to be very clear that this is a political assassination,’ Cox said, though he did not disclose how he determined the suspected shooter’s motive.
Cox also stated that there was no evidence indicating the involvement of a second shooter.
But just over an hour after news of the second suspect was made public, Patel revealed that the individual had been released.
‘The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement,’ he wrote to X. ‘Our investigation continues and we will continue to release information in interest of transparency.’
Mr Kirk leaves behind his wife, Erika Frantzve, along with their three-year-old son and 16-month-old daughter.
