Kit Knightly – Off Guardian Sept 16, 2025

Since the assassination of Charlie Kirk last week the theories have been flying thick and fast.

The alleged shooter has been identified as a pro-transgender campaigner into furry internet culture and also a traditional Republican Mormon. He is both a leftist anti-fa agent and a far-right “Groyper” fan of Nick Fuentes.

Others suggest the alleged shooter, regardless of his politics, is just a patsy, and Kirk was killed by Mossad operatives for turning against Israel. People are analyzing video footage minutely looking for bullet paths and possible suspects in the security entourage.

Still others maintain Kirk was never killed at all, and the whole thing is a fake psy-op.

We have yet to receive the “official version” from on high but, when we do, you can be sure it won’t satisfy everybody, and debate will rage.

Thus far, there is only one certitude we can take away from the case – cancel culture is alright, really.

For years, the Republican position has been that leftist “cancel culture” – ruining lives and careers because of “offensive” social media posts – is ridiculous and morally wrong.

Not anymore, now massive social media campaigns are launched against anyone who celebrates, minimizes or even fails to adequately mourn the death of Charlie Kirk.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m no fan of celebrating murder. And, indeed, would argue that those people posting videos cheering on the assassin are symptomatic of greater societal problems in various ways (being shocking for engagement, cheapening of human life and general disengagement from reality chief among them), but that doesn’t mean people should be doxed, bullied or fired.

Free speech needs to cover inappropriate jokes and just generally being a bad person.

Someone who used to espouse that belief is Elon Musk…

…but that hasn’t stopped him – or, at least, the person running his X account – from abandoning his commitment to absolute free speech in favour of the hysterical doxxing of anyone who doesn’t look sad enough.

Other high-profile rightwing talking heads are taking part:

Not since the death of George Floyd has performative moralizing been so important to keeping your job. A parallel that is likely anything but accidental.

This culminated, earlier today, with Attorney General Pamela Bondi announcing that “hate speech has no place in society”:

“Freedom of speech doesn’t mean freedom from consequences”? “Hate speech is not free speech”? These are the most absurd tenets of the anti-freedom “liberal” class, suddenly being embraced by the right wing. It’s yet another example of both “sides” backing the same broad policies for different reasons.

To complete the gaslighting world-inversion, those same people who would use those arguments to get people fired for racist jokes only two weeks ago, are suddenly bridling at them.

It’s just like the vaccines. Remember that? When Trump announced Project Warp Speed, and mainstream outlets were publishing warnings about “rushed” vaccines, only to totally flip when Biden “won” the 2020 election. They do it this way on purpose.

Republican or Democrat, under the right circumstances, both teams now agree that free speech doesn’t mean the freedom to say things that are morally wrong or factually incorrect or…whatever. Which is actually the antithesis of free speech. Everyone believes in free speech they agree with.

Ironically enough, Charlie Kirk himself provided a fine riposte to the “hate speech” talking point:

Whatever did or didn’t happen to the man, and whoever is or isn’t responsible, there’s no denying he got that right.

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