Ten months after his assassination, the far-right activist Charlie Kirk has become the subject of widespread online mockery, with crude memes and ironic tributes proliferating across social media. Audio of the gunshot that killed him has become a TikTok trend, while a posthumous tribute song, 'We Are Charlie Kirk', is being reposted sarcastically. A trend known as 'Kirkification' sees his face superimposed onto unlikely images such as the Mona Lisa or Jeffrey Epstein.
The mockery marks a sharp shift from the immediate aftermath of his death, when conservatives attempted to suppress any criticism. Hundreds of people were disciplined for denouncing him. Media sociologist Alex Turvy said the attempted censorship 'loaded the spring', leading to an explosion of satirical content once the pressure released.
The meme-ification threatens to undermine the carefully cultivated legacy of Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA. It also distracts from the prosecution of his alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson, whose preliminary hearings began this week in Provo, Utah. Turning Point USA has struggled to retain its grip on online discourse since Kirk's death, with figures like Candace Owens and Nick Fuentes vying for influence among young conservatives.
Kirk was a product of internet culture, known for travelling to college campuses to challenge students to debates that were designed to generate viral clips. He appealed to young men who felt marginalised, according to media studies professor Jamie Cohen, who described him as a 'media martyr'. However, researcher Eviane Leidig said Kirk's legacy is now seen as 'cringe' among the younger generation, reflecting larger shifts in right-wing online culture.
