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Did Charlie Kirk call MLK Jr. 'awful'? Bernice King slams tribute comparing Kirk to her father
Several viral posts claimed that Charlie Kirk once described Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as "awful."
A memorial service for Charlie Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was held Sunday at State Farm Stadium near Glendale, Arizona. The event drew a large crowd and featured US President Donald Trump as the headline speaker. Several senior figures from Trump’s administration, including Vice President JD Vance, also spoke in honor of the conservative activist.
Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, delivered an emotional tribute, remembering her husband’s passion for faith and free speech.
Did Charlie Kirk call MLK ‘awful’?
Amid the tributes, a controversial quote attributed to Kirk circulated on social media, sparking backlash. Several viral posts claimed that Kirk once described Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as “awful,” allegedly saying, “MLK was awful. He's not a good person. He said one good thing he actually didn't believe.”
According to a January 2024 report by journalist William Turton for Wired, Kirk made this statement during a speech at America Fest, a Turning Point USA political convention, held in December 2023.
Snopes verified the quote after Turton provided an audio recording of the speech. The context of Kirk’s comments remains a point of debate, but the recording confirms he made the statement.
MLK comparisons stir reactions
Kirk’s death has also drawn comparisons to historical figures, including Martin Luther King Jr.
A viral post by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna included a photo placing Kirk alongside Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Jesus Christ, and King.
The post drew criticism, including from Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., who reposted the photo on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “There are so many things wrong with this. So many. I get tired, y’all."
Alveda King speaks out
Alveda C. King, niece of MLK, released a video message on September 17, saying, “As a woman who survived the assassinations of my uncle, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., my father, Reverend A.D. King, and my grandmother, Mrs. Alberta Williams-King, I know all too well the impact of this kind of cowardly act. Charlie Kirk was assassinated.”
She continued, “Charlie stood for life, for faith, and biblical truth. He wasn’t afraid to say the name of Jesus in the public square, and he paid a price for it. Now is not the time to attack Charlie. It’s the time to lift up the banner of Christ as the member of the one blood human race Charlie Kirk did. His legacy of public discourse of bringing difficult conversations to the table mattered. He caused us to think and to pray. Charlie has gone to meet his maker. May he rest in peace.”
