Featured Image Credit: Mathew Tsang/Getty Images
Topics: Charlie Kirk, Crime, Gun Crime, Politics, Social Media, Stephen King, Twitter, US News, LGBTQ
Ella Scott
Topics: Charlie Kirk, Crime, Gun Crime, Politics, Social Media, Stephen King, Twitter, US News, LGBTQ
Warning: This article contains discussion of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community which some readers may find distressing.
Stephen King has issued a litany of apologies after Tesla CEO Elon Musk called him out with a brutal one-word statement.
The death of activist Charlie Kirk has rocked America, with former US President Barack Obama, ex-Vice President Kamala Harris, and other top Democrats coming out in their droves to condemn his assassination in Utah.
Celebrities such as Jimmy Kimmel, Rosie O’Donnell, and Arnold Schwarzenegger have also made public posts about the 31-year-old, who was fatally shot during a campus event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday (September 10).
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Jesse Watters, the political commentator and Fox News TV host, claimed Kirk was not 'controversial' or 'polarizing', adding: "Charlie was a PATRIOT... Rest in peace, my friend."
Replying to Watters message on X, author Stephen King alleged: “He advocated stoning gays to death. Just sayin.’”
The comment seemingly refers to a reply Kirk made after YouTuber Ms. Rachel referred to Leviticus 18 in the Bible as a reminder to ‘love your neighbor as yourself’.
He said: “By the way Ms. Rachel, you might want to crack open that Bible of yours, in a lesser referenced part in the same part of scripture, is in Leviticus 18 is that 'Thou shall lay with another man, shall be stoned to death.' Just saying... [This chapter] affirms God's perfect law when it comes to sexual matters.”
54-year-old Musk was quick to criticize King’s comment. He simply replied with the word ‘Liar’.
The 77-year-old has since removed the original post, following it with an apology message.
“I apologize for saying Charlie Kirk advocated stoning gays. What he actually demonstrated was how some people cherry-pick Biblical passages.”
The Long Walk author then proceeded to reply to a slew of messages, including one from Ted Cruz, junior United States senator from Texas, who called him a ‘horrible, evil twisted liar’ after reading the original tweet.
“The horrible, evil, twisted liar apologizes. This is what I get for reading something on Twitter w/o fact-checking. Won't happen again,” King lamented.
Cruz has since responded, thanking the horror icon for deleting the false post. He added: “All of us—on both sides of the aisle—should treat each other with respect & decency, even if we disagree on politics.
“Charlie did that every day, and I admired him for it.”
King’s latest stance on the matter reads: “One of the AA [Alcoholics Anonymous] principles, difficult to follow sometimes but worthwhile, comes in Step 10: ‘When we were wrong, we promptly admitted it.’”
In 2019, Kirk said: "I believe marriage is one man one woman.
"Also gay people should be welcome in the conservative movement,” he added. “As Christians we are called to love everyone.”
UNILAD has previously reached out to King for comment.
An investigation into the death of Kirk is still ongoing after police officers immediately launched a widespread manhunt for the assassin.
The FBI has announced its leading suspect, identified as 22-year-old Utah native Tyler Robinson, has been detained.
Officials believe the alleged killer acted alone and used a bolt-action rifle, while positioned from a nearby rooftop.
If you or someone you know has been affected by gun violence, please find more information and support via Survivors Empowered on their website.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the LGBT national hotline at 888-843-4564, available Monday to Friday 4pm-12am ET and 12pm-5pm ET on Saturdays.