Why Are People Getting Fired From Their Jobs For Posting About Charlie

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 19, 2025, 12:09 AM

why are people getting fired from their jobs for posting about charlie

People embrace in front of a memorial for Charlie Kirk at the Turning Point USA headquarters on September 12, 2025 in Phoenix. Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on Wednesday in Utah. Eric Thayer/Getty Images hide caption Over thirty people across the country have been fired, put on leave, investigated or faced calls to resign because of social media posts criticizing Charlie Kirk or expressing schadenfreude about the conservative influencer's assassination... And more may be to come: some GOP lawmakers and officials are signaling their readiness to punish people for their speech. Conservative activists are collecting and publicizing social media posts and profiles that they say "celebrated" his death and are calling for them to lose their jobs.

"If they have their picture on their profile, even without a name, download the picture and reverse image search it," posted right-wing influencer Joey Mannarino. "Cross-reference it with their LinkedIn profile and find their place of employment. Call the place of employment, leave Google reviews." Some Republican elected officials, along with right-wing influencers with large followings, including Laura Loomer and Libs of TikTok, the account run by activist Chaya Raichik, shared screenshots of offending posts and demanded action. Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.

The analyses provided indicate that multiple employees have been fired or disciplined for posting about Charlie Kirk's death [1] [1]. These firings have been attributed to various factors, including reputational harm, policy violations, and at-will employment [1]. The employers' actions have been supported by the law, which allows private-sector employers to fire employees for off-duty speech with little legal obligation to protect it [2]. Public officials, such as Vice President JD Vance, have urged employers to take action against employees who celebrate Kirk's death [3]. The debate surrounding these firings has sparked discussions about the limits of free speech in the workplace [4] [5] [6]. Several companies, including Nasdaq, United Airlines, and MSNBC, have fired employees for making insensitive or celebratory comments about Kirk's death [1] [7].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints A key aspect missing from the original statement is the distinction between public and private employers [5]. While public employers may have to balance employees' free speech rights, private employers have more discretion to fire employees for speech deemed disruptive [5]. The role of state law and union status in protecting employee free speech rights is also crucial [5]. Additionally, the context of the comments made by employees, including whether they were celebratory or insensitive, is essential in understanding the employers' actions [7].

Alternative viewpoints, such as the impact of these firings on employees' freedom of expression and the potential for chilling effects on speech, are also worth considering [6]. The involvement of state officials, such as the Florida Department of Education, in investigating and disciplining educators who have commented on Kirk's death, adds another layer of complexity to the issue [8]. 3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement Many of those who celebrated Kirk's death found themselves quickly out of a job. When news broke on Sept.

10, 2025, that right wing commentator Charlie Kirk had been slain by a gunman at a rally in Utah, ripples of shock moved through the internet. Many people were shocked and horrified at the death of a 31-year-old husband and father, while some lamented his loss as a voice for their beliefs. But there were some areas of the internet that turned celebratory, as people pointed out that Kirk's beliefs included that Black people and women are inferior, transgender people shouldn't be respected, and that people... For several of these people celebrating, they quickly found themselves fired after sharing their posts about Kirk's death. Here's what we know about the situation. Updated on: September 16, 2025 / 9:18 PM EDT / CBS News

The killing of Charlie Kirk is sparking debate about political violence in the U.S., as well as the kinds of professional repercussions employees who speak out about the conservative activist's death — and other... A number of businesses and other organizations have shown employees the door this week because of their public remarks about Kirk, who was assassinated on Wednesday while giving a speech at Utah Valley University. Among those to lose their jobs or face sanctions: a political pundit, a university employee, a sports reporter and a U.S. secret service agent. Private employers have the law on their side when it comes to removing a worker who makes public statements that the business views as potentially harmful, according to legal experts. "A private company can generally fire an employee for public comments, even political ones, if those comments are deemed to harm the company's reputation, violate workplace policy or disrupt the business," workplace attorney Marjorie...

"I feel like someone should release the files." Context: On a September 2025 episode of Fox and Friends, Brian Kilmeade said, "Or, uh, involuntary lethal injection, or something, just kill 'em" during a discussion about people experiencing homelessness and mental illness. He has since apologized and walked back the statement. Context: On a September 2025 episode of Fox and Friends, Brian Kilmeade said, "Or, uh, involuntary lethal injection, or something, just kill 'em" during a discussion about people experiencing homelessness and mental illness. He has since apologized and walked back the statement. Note: Responses have been edited for length/clarity.

After dozens of school districts and colleges fired employees or placed them on leave over social media posts about Charlie Kirk’s assassination, some of those employees are turning to federal courts to get their... A former Ball State University staff member is suing the Indiana school’s president after she was fired for posting on Facebook: “Charlie Kirk’s death is a reflection of the violence, fear and hatred he... It does not excuse his death, AND it’s a sad truth.” An art teacher in central Iowa filed a suit last week after the Oskaloosa school board voted to fire him for posting “1 Nazi down” about Kirk’s assassination. An elementary school teacher assistant is suing her Spartanburg County, South Carolina, district over what her lawsuit calls an unconstitutional social media policy. According to the suit, she was fired for posting a quote from Kirk in which he said it’s worth having “some gun deaths every single year” to protect the Second Amendment, and then adding...

And on Wednesday, an art professor will plead his case before a federal judge in Sioux Falls, hoping to stop the University of South Dakota from firing him for posting on Facebook: “Where was... And the school shootings? And capital police? I have no thoughts or prayers for this hate spreading nazi. A shrug, maybe.” Individuals who have posted social media content about Charlie Kirk risk losing their jobs.

According to multiple media reports, pilots, teachers and professors are among those who have been fired or suspended after discussing Kirk's murder online. While there has been an outpouring of grief from his supporters after Kirk, 31, was fatally shot at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Wednesday during a question-and-answer session on campus, there have... The reports of people being fired over their social media content have also raised questions about the line between free speech and permitting hateful content online. A Reuters report on Saturday claimed that at least 15 people have been fired or suspended from their jobs because of posting about Kirk online. An NPR report said the number is 33. In the two days since conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated, social media reactions have ranged from the sorrowful—grief, condemnation, and offering prayers—to the crassest expressions of celebration from online critics.

Teachers have been among those who are alleged to have posted controversial and inflammatory comments about Kirk—prompting widespread doxxing, disciplinary actions in several states, and warnings from state officials to educators about inappropriate online... The resulting firestorm has raised questions of teachers’ online speech rights and responsibilities during emotionally charged and politically divisive events. Kirk, 31, a co-founder and executive director of the conservative organization Turning Point USA, was shot Sept. 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University and died later that day. A close ally of President Donald Trump, Kirk is credited with bringing conservatism to younger generations—his “prove me wrong” debates with college students about politics often went viral on social media platforms and helped... Kirk also had a history of making inflammatory comments about marginalized groups.

National teachers’ union leaders condemned Kirk’s killing, calling it “antithetical to how we should do things in our American democracy.”

Why Are People Getting Fired From Their Jobs For Posting About Charlie

People Also Search

People Embrace In Front Of A Memorial For Charlie Kirk

"If They Have Their Picture On Their Profile, Even Without

The Analyses Provided Indicate That Multiple Employees Have Been Fired

2. Missing Context/alternative Viewpoints A Key Aspect Missing From The

Alternative Viewpoints, Such As The Impact Of These Firings On