Author Stephen King issued a public apology Friday after falsely claiming that slain Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk once advocated “stoning” gay people.
Kirk, 31, was assassinated on Wednesday by a sniper while hosting a “Prove Me Wrong” event at Utah Valley University.
Just one day later, King smeared the murdered father of two online.
King posted false claims that Kirk had called for executing gay people.
However, a backlash ensued, and the claim was immediately debunked.
“He [Kirk] advocated stoning gays to death. Just sayin’,” King posted Thursday in reply to Fox News host Jesse Watters.
The claim sparked backlash from conservatives, including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Salem Radio host Sebastian Gorka.
They accused King of spreading lies about a man murdered less than 24 hours earlier.
By Friday morning, King backtracked:
“I apologize for saying Charlie Kirk advocated stoning gays,” King posted on X.
“What he actually demonstrated was how some people cherry-pick Biblical passages.
“I was wrong, and I apologize. I have deleted the post.”
I apologize for saying Charlie Kirk advocated stoning gays. What he actually demonstrated was how some people cherry-pick Biblical passages.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) September 12, 2025
King’s apology came the same day a film adaptation of his novel “The Long Walk,” starring liberal actor Mark Hamill, was released.
Contrary to King’s smear, Kirk had publicly defended including gay conservatives in the movement.
“I believe marriage is one man, one woman,” Kirk wrote in 2019.
“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.”
Kirk founded TPUSA in 2012, building it into the largest youth-oriented conservative organization in the country.
He also hosted “The Charlie Kirk Show,” which grew into a nationally syndicated radio program on the Salem Radio Network.
TPUSA events have frequently drawn violent protests from the Left.
In 2022, Dartmouth College was forced to move a TPUSA event featuring Andy Ngo and Gabriel Nadales online after Antifa threats raised security concerns.
In 2023, swimmer Riley Gaines was assaulted during a TPUSA event at San Francisco State University after speaking out against male athletes competing in women’s sports.
Kirk’s assassination, combined with the ongoing hostility faced by TPUSA, has sparked renewed debate over political violence and whether conservatives are safe to publicly express their views.
READ MORE – FEMA Employee Placed on Leave for Smearing Charlie Kirk as ‘Racist Homophobe’
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