The Leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has expressed outrage over the online reactions celebrating the death of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk, insisting that such conduct normalises political violence.
Badenoch, in a post shared on her verified X account on Monday, condemned the tone of social media users who mocked Kirk’s assassination, describing the trend as both “grotesque” and dangerous to democracy.
She wrote: “My feed was filled with people celebrating his death with grotesque glee. Videos of Kirk were chopped, twisted and repurposed by users, making him appear to say things he never said – all to justify their hate.”
The 43-year-old politician further noted that several left-wing commentators and journalists used the incident to ridicule the late Turning Point USA co-founder, who was killed while addressing a rally in Utah. According to her, such actions go beyond cruelty and reflect an increasing acceptance of violence as a legitimate response to differing political opinions.
“This is not just cruelty. It is the normalisation of violence against those who dare to think differently. A culture that cheers when opponents are silenced by force is one that is heading towards catastrophe,” she warned.
Badenoch drew attention to recent developments in the United Kingdom, citing the arrest of British comedian Graham Linehan over gender identity-related tweets. She maintained that legal frameworks designed to protect individuals from harm were now being weaponised to stifle opinion.
She stressed: “Free speech is not negotiable. It is the bedrock of a free nation and one of the values true liberals and true conservatives share.”
Charlie Kirk, aged 31, co-founded Turning Point USA, an organisation that champions conservative values in the United States. He was fatally shot on September 10, 2025, while speaking to around 3,000 supporters at Utah Valley University in Orem during his “American Comeback Tour.”
Authorities have since arrested 22-year-old Tyler James Robinson on suspicion of carrying out the killing. Investigations are ongoing as the motive remains unclear, but the case has ignited global debate about the boundaries of political rhetoric, extremism, and public safety.
okay.ng reports that Badenoch’s comments underscore a growing concern across Western democracies over how online platforms amplify division and, in some cases, celebrate acts of violence.
