Featured Image Credit: Darryl Oumi/Getty Images/Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images
Topics: Dwayne Johnson, Charlie Kirk, WWE, Social Media
Joe Yates
Topics: Dwayne Johnson, Charlie Kirk, WWE, Social Media
The Rock's daughter has doubled down on her view of Charlie Kirk's assassination, causing major backlash online.
Ava Raine, the 24-year-old WWE wrestler and daughter of Dwayne Johnson, came under fire for sharing a post widely interpreted as a response to the killing of the 31-year-old right-wing political activist.
The father-of-two was fatally shot in the neck while speaking at a Turning Point USA - a conservative student organization - event at Utah Valley University, in Orem, on Wednesday (September 10).
Taking to Instagram, Raine - real name Simone Garcia Johnson - reposted a message from New York comedian Gianmarco Soresi. It read: "If you want people to have kind words when you pass, you should say kind things when you’re alive."
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While Kirk wasn’t mentioned directly, it was posted the same day as his death.
Raine then reposted the quote on Twitter, adding: "And i’ll stand behind this. be kind, now more than ever.”
The post sparked immediate backlash online, especially from WWE fans. Critics flooded her page with angry responses, including one who wrote: “Be kind or get assassinated?? I’m sure you’ve said something unkind I know your dad has what an idiotic statement.”
Another questioned WWE’s stance, asking: “@WWE @TKOGrp does tko and wwe stand behind this?”
While a third typed: "If your a** ain’t unemployed by the end of the day this shifts to WWE itself. If TKO wants to stand behind some Nepobaby and lose customers, that’s their issue."
Many also shared a viral meme of The Rock shouting into the mic: "Shut up b****."
Raine isn’t the only one facing scrutiny for comments following Kirk’s murder. Several public figures have lost their jobs for posting remarks viewed as inappropriate or celebratory in tone.
The Carolina Panthers terminated Charlie Rock, a communications staffer, over what the team called an 'insensitive social media post'.
While MSNBC parted ways with analyst Matthew Dowd after he bizarrely speculated on-air that Kirk may have been killed by celebratory gunfire from a supporter.
Tyler Robinson, 22, has been arrested and identified as the suspected shooter who authorities believe sniped Illinois-born Kirk on a nearby rooftop of the college campus at around 12.20pm on Wednesday.
Kirk was answering questions about mass shootings and gun violence at the time he was struck by a single bullet.
UNILAD has contacted WWE for comment.
If you or someone you know has been affected by gun violence, please find more information and support via Survivors Empowered on their website.