Conspiracy theories surrounding the shooting of Charlie Kirk have grown more widespread a year after his death, amplified by social media algorithms and right-wing influencers. Baseless claims about the incident have circulated continuously, with figures such as Candace Owens using large followings to push unfounded allegations.
Researchers expect the false narratives to persist. Jared Holt, senior researcher at Open Measures, said there is no reason to believe the theories will lose momentum soon, and that they may escalate as the criminal trial of Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing Kirk, proceeds over the coming year. The trial is expected to attract significant media attention and provide fresh material for those spreading unverified claims.
How the theories spread
In the immediate aftermath of Kirk’s death, some claimed the killing was a false flag operation intended to divert attention from President Donald Trump’s connections to Jeffrey Epstein. Others alleged the event was staged, promoted an AI-powered gun theory, suggested the shooter was a Kirk supporter, or claimed Kirk was still alive.
The claim that endured is that someone close to Kirk, or acting on behalf of Israel, was responsible, that Robinson was a patsy, and that an exploding microphone caused the death. This narrative has been central to Owens’ months-long campaign, with her Kirk content accumulating hundreds of millions of views.
Joan Donovan, assistant professor of journalism and emerging media studies at Boston University, said X and YouTube are rife with speculation about Kirk’s death, where it remains possible to reach new audiences and monetise them. Renée DiResta, an associate research professor at Georgetown University who tracks disinformation, noted that conspiratorial influencers make events appear more mysterious and exciting, and that for many their explanations are preferable to the reality of violence committed by a lone individual.
Real-world consequences
The spread of these claims has had tangible effects. Researchers at the Network Contagion Research Institute found that Candace Owens caused a measurable, statistically significant surge in death threats and calls for violence against Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s wife. In May, a man was arrested for allegedly threatening to kill Erika Kirk ahead of her appearance at a Turning Point USA event in San Antonio, though he has yet to be charged. Owens did not respond to a request for comment.
Erika Kirk and Turning Point have repeatedly called for Owens and others to stop spreading baseless rumours about the assassination. Those calls have not been heeded, though Turning Point believes the reach and potency of the theories are diminishing, stating they carry much less impact now than they did six months earlier.
