Charlie Kirk, a stalwart conservative voice, was gunned down Wednesday at Utah Valley University, days after Jezebel’s bizarre witch-curse stunt. The left-leaning site’s attempt at edgy humor backfired spectacularly. Its timing couldn’t have been worse, as the Daily Mail reports.
Jezebel published an article on Sept. 8 titled “We Paid Some Etsy Witches to Curse Charlie Kirk,” a move which was followed by Kirk’s assassination two days later. The outlet scrambled to issue a statement clarifying the post’s date and condemning the shooting. The coincidence raised eyebrows.
The article’s author gleefully described purchasing curses on Etsy, targeting Kirk for his unapologetic conservative rhetoric. “You can find a spell for just about anything,” the writer boasted, trivializing witchcraft as a quirky online purchase. This flippant tone now feels reckless.
Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking at an event hosted by his nonprofit when the tragedy struck. Videos from the Sorensen Center courtyard show him engaging an audience member on gun violence. A single shot from a rooftop ended the exchange.
The shooter, dressed in dark clothing, fired from a distance and remains at large. Utah authorities are pursuing a new person of interest, though two earlier detainees were released. No official motive has been confirmed, but political violence concerns loom large.
Kirk’s event, part of his “American Comeback Tour,” sparked campus tension before it began. An online petition to bar him gathered nearly 1,000 signatures. Utah Valley University defended Kirk's appearance, citing free speech.
Jezebel’s article framed Kirk as a prime target for feminist ire, calling him a “far-right podcaster” with an “aggressively large head.” The author sneered at his views on gender and reproductive issues, painting him as a villain. This rhetoric, though not illegal, feels dangerously inflammatory now.
The piece mused about witchcraft’s political allure, noting a subreddit dedicated to hexing Trump. “It’s not uncommon for [witches] to channel their energy toward thwarting Republicans,” the author wrote. Such casual endorsement of symbolic malice looks foolish in hindsight.
Jezebel’s statement insisted, “We do not endorse, encourage, or excuse political violence.” Yet the article’s gleeful tone -- hoping Kirk suffers “an inexplicable zit” or faulty equipment -- undermines their disavowal. It’s hard to take their condemnation seriously.
The assassination drew bipartisan condemnation, but solutions to curb political violence remain elusive. President Donald Trump, a close Kirk ally, called him a “martyr for truth and freedom” in a White House video. He blamed “radical left” rhetoric, a charge Jezebel’s stunt does little to refute.
Videos show Kirk clutching his neck as blood poured, with stunned spectators fleeing. The Utah Department of Public Safety reported 3,000 attendees and a security presence of six officers plus Kirk’s team. The campus was evacuated, and classes were canceled indefinitely.
Kirk’s debate was billed as a bold stand for conservative values, challenging progressive campus orthodoxy. His “Prove Me Wrong” tent invited confrontation, but no one expected this. The shooting underscores the risks of polarizing rhetoric on all sides.
Utah Valley University, citing First Amendment rights, had defended Kirk’s event despite protests. Armed officers now patrol nearby neighborhoods, seeking leads on the shooter. Residents are shown photos of a person of interest, but answers remain scarce.
Jezebel’s author admitted a “gray area” in cursing someone like Kirk specifically, yet proceeded with relish. “To ruin his day with the collective feminist power of the Etsy coven would be my life’s greatest joy,” they wrote. This performative spite now casts a long shadow.
Kirk, at 31, was a rising star, praised by Trump as “Great, and even Legendary.” His death at a Utah college, days after Jezebel’s provocative post, fuels a grim national debate. While Jezebel denies intent, their stunt highlights the perils of reckless rhetoric.
