Stephen King made controversial comments about Charlie Kirk following Kirk's assassination in September 2025, sparking widespread backlash. In a now- deleted X (formerly Twitter) post, the horror author accused Kirk of "advocating stoning gays to death," referencing Kirk's 2024 podcast remarks critiquing a children's YouTuber on biblical interpretations of Leviticus. King quickly apologized, admitting he hadn't fact-checked and clarifying that Kirk had highlighted selective Bible quoting instead.

The Initial Claim

King's post came right after the shooting at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, where Kirk was killed—allegedly by Tyler Robinson, who reportedly called Kirk "full of hate."

  • Kirk had sarcastically cited Leviticus 20:13 (on stoning for certain acts) while pushing back on "love thy neighbor" rhetoric tied to Pride events.
  • King's phrasing twisted this into a direct advocacy claim, igniting MAGA supporters and figures like Ted Cruz, who labeled King a "horrible, evil, twisted liar."

This wasn't isolated; King, a vocal Trump critic, often spars online, but the timing—post-murder—amplified the firestorm.

King's Apology Breakdown

By September 12, King walked it back publicly:

"I apologize for saying Charlie Kirk advocated stoning gays. What he actually demonstrated was how some people cherry-pick Biblical passages."

He added to Cruz: "Horrible, twisted apologizer is what you get for something posted without fact-checking. Won't happen again."

King called it a "simple mistake," but critics saw it as too little amid boycott calls hurting his movie The Long Walk.

Public Reactions

The saga split opinions sharply, blending politics, free speech, and celebrity accountability:

  • Pro-King camp : Some fans (e.g., Reddit threads) felt he "spoke truth" on Kirk's rhetoric and shouldn't apologize to bullies. They viewed it as hasty tweeting, not malice—King's style of raw, unfiltered takes.
  • Anti-King backlash : Conservatives accused him of smearing a murder victim, fueling boycotts and "cancel" campaigns; fans reportedly ditched him. Outlets like Hollywood Reporter noted it as a social media misfire with real fallout.
  • Neutral takes : Forums stressed fact-checking's role in polarized times, warning how viral posts distort contexts like Kirk's biblical sarcasm.

Viewpoint| Key Argument| Example Source
---|---|---
Supportive| King highlighted hypocrisy; apology was pressured| Reddit fans 10
Critical| Smear post-murder was reckless, apology insincere| MAGA backlash, Cruz 9
Balanced| Lesson in verifying clips before amplifying| Media analyses 45

Broader Trending Context

As of late 2025 into 2026, this remains a flashpoint in culture wars—Kirk's death fueled debates on hate speech vs. biblical literalism, with King's flip amplifying "Hollywood elite vs. conservatives" narratives.

It trended alongside election-year tensions (Trump's 2024 reelection), showing how authors like King wield influence but risk swift reversals online. No major updates since September, but YouTube rants and forums keep it simmering.

TL;DR : King wrongly said Kirk pushed stoning gays (misread 2024 clip), apologized fast amid fury post-Kirk's murder, but divided fans on truth vs. timing.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.