‘I apologize’: Stephen King walks back Charlie Kirk misinformation post shooting tragedy

X piled on Stephen King after he incorrectly suggested slain right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk advocated for gay people to be stoned to death, citing scripture.

Amid the online controversy, including an attack from Texas Senator Ted Cruz, King deleted the post, stating, among several subsequent updates apologizing for the incorrect information, “I apologize for saying Charlie Kirk advocated stoning gays. What he actually demonstrated was how some people cherry-pick Biblical passages.”

Before the apology, Senator Cruz called King “a horrible, evil, twisted liar.” King reshared Cruz’s post with his own caption, stating, “The horrible, evil, twisted liar apologizes. This is what I get for reading something on Twitter w/o fact-checking. Won’t happen again.”

Kirk’s remarks

King’s incorrect information dated from a podcast episode, where he pushed back on YouTuber Mr. Rachel, who asserted Gay Pride Celebrations were justified under Bible scripture teaching followers to “love thy neighbor.”

In response, Kirk references Leviticus 18, which he paraphrases, “thou shall lay with another man, shall be stoned to death,” not to say he supported stoning individuals, but to say there are limits to Biblical interpretation in the context of cherry-picking scripture, especially when using scripture to support gay rights.

At the same time, while King mischaracterized what Kirk said, the conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA drew significant controversy for his outspoken opposition to LGBTQ+ rights before his death. He consistently opposed same-sex marriage, framing it as a challenge to traditional Christian values, while asserting that sexual orientation should not define a person’s identity.

Further, Kirk criticized what he calls the “LGBTQ agenda” on his platforms, citing scripture to justify his positions, and has likened LGBTQ+ identities to harmful behaviors that require correction. He also expressed support for burning Pride flags and other symbols of progressive movements, arguing that such acts should not be legally punished.

Kirk was equally vocal against transgender rights, opposing gender-affirming care and military service for transgender individuals. He controversially called for legal action against medical professionals providing gender-affirming care and described such practices as abusive.