Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford’s wife, Kelly Stafford, turned to her Instagram Stories to honor Charlie Kirk. The American right-wing political activist had been shot and killed the previous day. Kelly reshared a post that read,
“Lord, I lift up Charlie Kirk’s family to You. I pray for his two precious children who now face life without their father, and for his beloved wife who grieves the loss of her husband.
Surround them with Your comfort and strength as they walk through this heartbreak. Be near to his entire family as they mourn such a tragic and painful loss.
“Rest in peace, Charlie – you are home in the arms of Jesus now.”
Matthew Stafford’s Wife Kelly | Instagram
However, these social media tributes didn’t sit well with NFL fans who blasted Kirk for his hypocrisy and double standards.
NFL fans blast Charlie Kirk for double standards
Matthew and Kelly Stafford make remarks before the ribbon cutting for the Kelly and Matthew Stafford and Friends Education Center at the S.A.Y Detroit Play Center in Detroit on Monday, April 1, 2024.
Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, speaks during a Unite and Win rally held by Turning Point Action at the Arizona Financial Theatre on Aug. 14, 2022, in Phoenix. Kirk and Pastor Rob McCoy of Newbury Park work in tandem to encourage pastors to become politically active. Tpunitewin 08142022 At 007
Fans cited Kirk’s repeated advocacy of violence, dismissal of empathy, and controversial political stances. Regarding LGBTQ+ individuals, Kirk once promoted extreme punishment. This was not an isolated remark in the context of his broader rhetoric.
“Kirk’s whole schtick was advocating for violence against people who didn’t share his views. He wanted Paul Pelosi’s attacker bailed out of jail, he praised Kyle Rittenhouse as a hero, he cozied up to and praised a BUNCH of white nationalists (Steve Sailor, Curtis Yarvin, amongst others), and he publicly stated a few times that “gun deaths are worth it to keep our second…even ones that specifically target people who would tell you otherwise.”
Comment
byu/RegularBirthday3563 from discussion
inNYGiants
Commenters highlighted Kirk had expressed fear of Black pilots, dismissed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as a mistake, and argued that multiple Black politicians “stole white people’s spots.”
“Here are some things that Charlie Kirk said in his life, as cataloged by Sean Fay-Wolfe | Diamond Axe Studios (@seanfaywolfe.bsky.social): The man is dead, and so it only seems fair to share his legacy by cataloguing the values he spread while alive. Gay people should be stoned to death…Muslims only come to America to destabilize Western Civilization…Palestine “doesn’t exist” and those who support it are like the KKK”
Another chimed in, “That same american that mocked innocent children in America and Palestinians who also said civil rights movement was a mistake. That same american also cheered on their political enemy when her and her husband were attacked and helped fundraise the lunatic to be let go…I like when one of these guys dies, we gotta have a dialogue about the country when someone evil dies but multiple other tragedies happens its crickets and life goes on.”
“They want people on the left to be the bigger person when these people…Kill democratic senators (John Hoffman)…Kill Johnathan Joss…Mock Palestinians and other minority groups…Tell gay people they need to be stoned…F*ck treating these evil people with kid gloves,”one user said.
Others argued that Kirk’s death was a consequence of the violent, divisive climate he helped foster. A widely sharedcomment framed it this way:
“The murder was horrible, but suddenly everyone is pretending he wasn’t saying absolutely vile bullshit and making the nation worse…My parents think he was non controversial and beloved. The Yankees did a moment of silence…America just moved 100 yards right.”
The viral Reddit discussion shows how Charlie Kirk’s death reopened debates about accountability, political extremism, and public reactions.