Stephen King speaks out after Elon Musk had sharp one word reply to author condemning Charlie Kirk following murder
Stephen King, one of the most famous authors in the world and known for his horror novels, found himself caught in a storm of controversy after posting about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s death. Kirk, who was only 31 years old, was shot and killed during an event at Utah Valley University.
His death shocked both political leaders and the general public across America. Many well-known figures, including former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Kamala Harris, television host Jimmy Kimmel, actress Rosie O’Donnell, and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, shared their grief and offered condolences. Fox News host Jesse Watters described Kirk as a patriot and friend, saying he was not the polarizing figure some claimed him to be.
Stephen King reacted strongly when he saw Watters’ post. He responded by accusing Kirk of once supporting the stoning of gay people, something many people would see as deeply hateful and dangerous. His comment referred to a past online exchange where Kirk quoted a passage from the Bible, specifically from Leviticus, that calls for men who sleep with men to be put to death. Kirk had used this to argue that people often cherry-pick parts of the Bible to suit their arguments. King, however, presented it as if Kirk was personally advocating violence.
It did not take long before Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of Tesla and X (formerly Twitter), noticed King’s post. Musk fired back with a single word: “Liar.” The blunt response from Musk caused even more attention to fall on King’s original message. King, who is 77 years old, soon realized that he had gone too far. He deleted his post and issued an apology, admitting that he had misrepresented Kirk. In his apology, he said that Kirk was not calling for violence, but instead showing how people interpret scripture in selective ways.
King’s apology did not stop the criticism. Senator Ted Cruz called him a “horrible, evil twisted liar,” accusing him of spreading falsehoods. King tried to defuse the situation by replying with self-deprecating humor, saying, “The horrible, evil, twisted liar apologizes. This is what I get for reading something on Twitter without fact-checking. Won’t happen again.” Cruz eventually acknowledged the apology and said he appreciated that King had removed the misleading post. Cruz also added that people on all sides of politics should show respect and decency toward one another, even when they disagree, and claimed that Kirk had embodied that approach every day.
King later reflected more deeply on the issue, quoting a principle from Alcoholics Anonymous that says when someone is wrong, they should admit it promptly. This was his way of showing that he accepted responsibility for his mistake. He also engaged with several people online who criticized him, attempting to clarify his intentions and take responsibility.
Charlie Kirk’s murder remains under investigation. Law enforcement officers immediately launched a large manhunt after the shooting at Utah Valley University. The FBI has since announced that they detained a suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, a Utah native. Investigators believe Robinson acted alone and used a bolt-action rifle from a nearby rooftop to carry out the attack. The motive behind the killing has not yet been fully explained, but officials are continuing to look into all possible leads.
Kirk’s death has stirred strong emotions across the political spectrum. While his supporters remember him as a patriot and someone who tried to bring conservative values into the mainstream, critics recall some of his controversial statements, especially about LGBTQ+ issues. Back in 2019, Kirk said he believed marriage should only be between a man and a woman, but he also stated that gay people should feel welcome in the conservative movement and that Christians are called to love everyone.
The entire situation shows how quickly tensions can rise in today’s political climate, especially online. King’s original comment, Musk’s blunt reply, Cruz’s angry condemnation, and the flood of public statements from politicians and celebrities illustrate how a single post can spiral into a national conversation. At the center of it all remains the tragic death of a young activist, an ongoing investigation into his murder, and a reminder of how fragile and heated public discourse can become.
