UK Conservative Party Leader, Kemi Badenoch, has condemned the online celebration that followed the killing of American conservative activist, Charlie Kirk, describing it as the “normalisation of violence against those who think differently.”
Badenoch, in a post on her X handle on Monday, said she was disturbed by the glee with which some users reacted to Kirk’s assassination.
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 British politician also criticised left-leaning influencers and journalists who, according to her, mocked the 31-year-old’s killing. “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 added.
Badenoch further linked the development to wider attacks on free speech, pointing to the recent arrest of British comedian Graham Linehan over tweets on gender identity.
She maintained that laws meant to prevent harm were now being used to criminalise 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.”
Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot dead on September 10, 2025, while addressing supporters at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
He was speaking at an outdoor “American Comeback Tour” rally attended by about 3,000 people.
US authorities later arrested Tyler James Robinson, 22, on suspicion of carrying out the attack.
Investigators have not disclosed a clear motive, though the killing has sparked global debate about political rhetoric and violence.
