Fired US workers face fallout after posting about Charlie Kirk
Explore how hundreds of Americans lost their jobs or faced disciplinary action after posting online about conservative activist Charlie Kirk in late 2025.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Gerald Bourguet lost his full-time basketball writing job over posts about Charlie Kirk
- A Reuters tally recorded over 600 instances of workers disciplined or fired nationwide
- Several affected employees secured substantial financial settlements through lawsuits
In September 2025, Gerald Bourguet felt his life was on track: he and his wife had purchased a home with a swimming pool, welcomed a baby boy, and he was working full-time writing about professional men's basketball. That stability dissolved entirely after he published critical online remarks concerning conservative activist Charlie Kirk hours after Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University on September 10.
Bourguet told the BBC he was disturbed by the way public figures were eulogizing Kirk, given the activist's controversial stances on immigration, race, gun control, and gender identity. Screenshots of Bourguet's critical commentary rapidly went viral across social media platforms.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
His former employer, PHNX Sports, terminated his contract immediately following the backlash. After his home address leaked online alongside threatening text messages, Bourguet and his family fled the state with their four-month-old infant before returning later to sell their home and relocate permanently.
Kirk's assassination triggered intense polarization on social media, with supporters praising his appeal to young conservatives while opponents condemned his inflammatory rhetoric. Pressure to penalize critical commenters originated from high-ranking government officials, with White House spokesperson Davis Ingle telling the BBC that anyone endorsing political violence must face the harshest condemnation.
"Anyone who engages in or endorses political violence or assassination culture must be condemned in the harshest terms possible."
Davis Ingle
Public and private employers across the United States acted swiftly to pressure campaigns targeting dissenting voices. Although comprehensive data is difficult to track, a Reuters tally from last November identified more than 600 disciplinary cases, though the true figure is likely much higher.
The widespread disciplinary wave highlights the ongoing legal and cultural tug-of-war surrounding freedom of speech and workplace conduct in the United States. While private employers retain broad latitude to terminate workers whose online behavior damages corporate reputation, terminated public employees frequently launch wrongful termination lawsuits centered on First Amendment protections.
Disciplinary actions took varied forms across different institutions. In Tennessee, anthropology professor Tamar Shirinian was fired over a Facebook comment suggesting the world was better off without Kirk. Similarly, wildlife biologist Brittney Brown lost her position in Florida after sharing a satirical meme addressing Kirk's previous statements on gun violence.
Source: BBC World
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