Stephen King Retracts: Apologizes for Controversial Charlie Kirk Tweet
Stephen King's Twitter Tantrum: Horror Author Faces Backlash for False Claims About Deceased Activist Charlie Kirk
The literary world was shocked on Friday when bestselling author Stephen King apologized for making critical comments and "false claims" about conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who tragically passed away at just 31. The 77-year-old horror mastermind's tweetstorm sparked outrage among social media users, with many calling him a "horror in real life" and accusing him of spreading "evil" lies.
King faced intense backlash for claiming that the late right-wing activist had advocated for stoning gay people to death, which was quickly disputed by multiple sources. Republican Senator Ted Cruz from Texas was among those who jumped into the fray, tweeting: "You are a horrible, evil, twisted liar. No, he did not." King's tweet, which garnered over 13 million views before being deleted, was met with scorn and ridicule from both sides of the aisle.
Conservative commentator Laura Ingraham blasted King as a "sad, bitter man" while openly gay host Dave Rubin of The Rubin Report called him "more monstrous than any of the characters you ever came up with." Utah Senator Mike Lee joined the chorus of critics, tweeting: "Please share if you agree that the estate of Charlie Kirk should sue Stephen King for defamation over this heinously false accusation. He's crossed a line. It will prove costly."
King, known for his outspoken criticism of former President Donald Trump, quickly backpedaled on his comments, claiming it was a "poor attempt" to illustrate how some people cherry-pick Biblical passages. In a series of apologetic tweets, King acknowledged that he had made a grave mistake by not fact-checking before posting.
"I apologize for saying Charlie Kirk advocated stoning gays," King tweeted. "What he actually demonstrated was how some people cherry-pick Biblical passages." He even took to responding directly to Cruz's tweet, writing: "The horrible, evil, twisted liar apologizes. This is what I get for reading something on Twitter w/o fact-checking. Won't happen again."
But not all public figures were as forgiving as King hoped. Progressive Congresswoman Ilhan Omar was the only Democrat or public official to slam Kirk's legacy, stating: "There is nothing more f*ed up than to pretend that his words and actions haven't been recorded and in existence for the last decade or so." She has yet to apologize for her comments.
In a surprising twist, former President Barack Obama weighed in on the controversy, tweeting: "This kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy." King concurred with Obama's statement, commenting: "All correct."
King also likened the shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson from Utah (who was taken into custody by authorities), to the assassins who killed former President John F. Kennedy and civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr., respectively. He described all three killers as "cowards who shot from ambush," sparking further outrage.
The tragic shooting occurred during Kirk's speaking engagement at Utah Valley University, which was the first stop on his American Comeback Tour, a college tour that was set to travel across the U.S. through September and October. Kirk leaves behind his wife Erika Frantzve and their two young children, including a three-year-old daughter and 16-month-old son.
As news of King's apology spread, social media users couldn't help but speculate about what drove the author's initial tweetstorm. Was it a genuine attempt to critique Kirk's ideology or simply a case of "Twitter rage"? Whatever the reason, one thing is clear: Stephen King's Twitter tantrum has left many wondering if he should stick to writing horror novels and leave politics alone.
TheScholarlyNote.com
