The tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, has sent shockwaves through American politics and society. Shot dead during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University, Kirk’s sudden death has ignited a storm of grief, debate, and outrage across the nation. While supporters mourned his loss and political leaders clashed over its implications, one of the most surprising responses came from the world of late-night television.
Stephen Colbert, host of The Late Show, is no stranger to political controversy. Known for his sharp wit and biting satire, Colbert has often criticized Kirk and conservative politics in general. But in an emotional monologue following Kirk’s assassination, Colbert shifted tone. He delivered not jokes, but a searing rebuke of those who chose to celebrate Kirk’s violent end—particularly among segments of America’s young LGBT community.
“This is beyond sick”
Colbert began his remarks by acknowledging the deep political divisions that often pit progressives against conservatives. But then he pivoted sharply, denouncing what he described as “grotesque online celebrations” of Kirk’s death.
“Another trans! When is enough enough? This is beyond sick,” Colbert said, referencing one of the disturbing posts he had seen circulating online. “I don’t even have the words for what I’m feeling today. To see a man like Charlie Kirk gunned down and then find posts floating around from people literally wishing him dead? It makes me sick to my core.”
His tone was not sarcastic but somber, and his message was clear: political disagreement does not justify celebrating violence.
A call for accountability
Colbert went further, urging law enforcement and social media companies to treat violent online rhetoric with seriousness.
“Let me be clear—anyone making threats like this needs to be investigated immediately,” he declared. “I don’t care if it’s Twitter, TikTok, or some basement blog, words like ‘I hope someone evaporates him’ are not free speech—they’re fuel for violence. We live in a time where hate is being cheered on, and this is what it leads to. I’m heartbroken, I’m furious, and I want justice. If you threaten violence, you should be locked up and never see the light of day until you understand the damage your words bring.”
The studio audience, often quick to laugh and cheer, responded with a heavy silence—an indication of the gravity of Colbert’s words.
LGBT youth and a culture of hostility
What particularly angered Colbert, and many others across the political spectrum, was that some of the loudest celebrations of Kirk’s death came from young LGBT activists online. These individuals, who often accused Kirk of intolerance and hatred, mirrored the very behaviors they had long condemned.
Colbert noted the irony: “You cannot preach tolerance while clapping for someone’s murder. You cannot demand acceptance while spreading hate. That’s not justice, that’s hypocrisy.”
He acknowledged the pain and marginalization many LGBT youth face but warned that cheering violence only deepens societal divides and fuels backlash. “Hate cannot be the answer,” he said. “If we let ourselves cheer death, we lose the very humanity we claim to fight for.”
Reactions from both sides
Colbert’s monologue sparked an immediate firestorm. Conservative commentators praised him for taking a stand against online cruelty and for defending Kirk’s dignity despite political differences. “I never thought I’d say this, but I respect Stephen Colbert tonight,” one right-wing columnist wrote. “He put humanity above politics.”
On the other hand, some progressive activists criticized Colbert for “platforming” Kirk as a sympathetic figure. They argued that Kirk’s rhetoric had harmed LGBT communities and that Colbert’s plea for compassion ignored the suffering caused by Kirk’s activism.
Still, many ordinary Americans welcomed Colbert’s call for decency. Social media users across the spectrum echoed his sentiment that celebrating death crosses a line no matter the politics.
