Multiple people in and around sports have lost their jobs over their social media posts about the death of Charlie Kirk.
The Carolina Panthers fired communications staffer Charlie Rock for posts he made on Instagram, Front Office Sports has confirmed via a source briefed on the matter. PHNX Sports, a division of the All-City network, announced it has parted ways with its Suns writer Gerald Bourguet.
Kirk, a conservative influencer and cofounder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was assassinated Wednesday while he was speaking at a rally at Utah Valley University. He was 31. Kirk was hit in the neck by a bullet from a long-range rifle by a shooter who was on a roof over 100 yards away. The shooter remains at large.
Posts circulating on social media in the aftermath indicated that Rock wrote on his Instagram story, “Why are yall sad? Your man said it was worth it.” A photo of Kirk was accompanied by the post. Rock was apparently referencing a speech that Kirk gave in 2023, where he said, “I think it’s worth [it] to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights. That is a prudent deal. It is rational. Nobody talks like this. They live in a complete alternate universe.”
Rock also posted a screenshot of the Wu Tang Clan song “Protect Ya Neck.”
The Panthers wrote in a statement on X: “The views expressed by our employees are their own and do not represent those of the Carolina Panthers. We do not condone violence of any kind. We are taking this matter very seriously and have accordingly addressed it with the individual.”
Scott Fowler of the Charlotte Observer first reported that Rock has been fired for the posts.
Rock posted on LinkedIn last month that he had been promoted to Football Communications Coordinator with the Panthers. He had been an intern with the team last year and was promoted during training camp.
Rock did not immediately respond to an inquiry from FOS.
Posting on X, Bourguet wrote, “If you’re saddened by today’s ‘political violence,’ horrified by the video, or repulsed by my response, ask yourself why your reaction was different when it came to school shootings, mass deportations or the HUNDREDS of videos of horrific murders in Gaza (which Kirk cheered on) … Truly don’t care if you think it’s insensitive or poor timing to decline to respect an evil man who died. Too many of you are more concerned with being polite and *appearing* to be good people rather than showing some damn backbone and standing on principal to condemn hate.”
After parting ways with Bourguet, the PHNX account wrote on X, “The opinions expressed by our employees do not represent the views of PHNX or ALLCITY Network. We take matters involving violence very seriously and are committed to ensuring that ALLCITY remains a safe place for our employees and community alike. We have addressed this matter with the individual and made the decision to part ways.”
