Author retracts statement on X, clarifies late TPUSA founder was demonstrating a rhetorical point, not advocating violence.
Famed author Stephen King posted an apology on the social media platform X on Friday after facing criticism for a previous post that contained a false claim about the late Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder, Charlie Kirk. The apology came two days after Kirk was assassinated during a “Prove Me Wrong” event at Utah Valley University (UVU).
In a post on Thursday, the day after Kirk’s assassination, King had replied to Fox News host Jesse Watters with the claim, “He [Kirk] advocated stoning gays to death. Just sayin’.”
READ: Accused Charlie Kirk Assassin Threatened Suicide Over Surrender, Father Reports
Several prominent conservative figures, including Salem Radio Network host Sebastian Gorka and Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, quickly challenged this assertion.
In his Friday morning post to X, King admitted his error. “I apologize for saying Charlie Kirk advocated stoning gays,” King wrote. “What he actually demonstrated was how some people cherry-pick Biblical passages.”
The author further acknowledged his mistake in a reply to the account “Defiant L’s,” which had posted a screenshot of his original comment. “I was wrong, and I apologize. I have deleted the post,” King stated.
The incident King referenced appears to be a discussion where Kirk used a hypothetical example to illustrate a rhetorical point, not an endorsement of violence.
READ: Trump Honors Charlie Kirk, Announces National Guard Deployment To Memphis In Fox News Interview
This is consistent with Kirk’s 2019 post on X, in which he stated, “I believe marriage is one man, one woman. Also, gay people should be welcome in the conservative movement. As Christians, we are called to love everyone. I will always stand against people who wish to establish their own personal values as a reason to kick others out of our movement.”
Charlie Kirk, who founded TPUSA in 2012, was a prominent conservative voice and hosted “The Charlie Kirk Show,” a popular podcast and radio program. He was shot and killed on Wednesday while taking questions from attendees at a university event.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
