Michael Keaton Condemns Gun Violence After Charlie Kirk Assassination
Michael Keaton offered his public remarks concerning the passing of Charlie Kirk after his killing last week.
The 74-year-old Birdman actor honored the recently deceased conservative political figure at the Investigative Reporters and Editors’ golden anniversary celebration in New York City on Monday, September 15.
According to a Variety article released the same day, Keaton began his address by reflecting on the assassination, which took place on September 10 at Utah Valley University. Kirk was 31 years old when he was fatally shot during an event held at the university.
Keaton addressed the attendees, stating, “Prior to delving into the main topic, I want to pause to acknowledge that, despite my likely — no, certainly — numerous disagreements with his viewpoints, Charlie Kirk is survived by his two children and his wife. This is something important to remember.”
Charlie's survivors include his spouse, Erika Kirk (née Frantzve), and their two young ones.
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The star proceeded, “Ultimately, resorting to gun violence solves nothing, and the profound irony of his death by a firearm is astonishing.”
Charlie, who co-founded Turning Point USA, was a conservative nonprofit organization predominantly recognized for its role in assisting President Donald Trump achieve success in the 2024 presidential race. Law enforcement identified the suspected assailant on Friday, September 12, as Tyler Robinson, who is currently detained without bond at Utah County Jail.
According to a BBC report published on Tuesday, September 16, Robinson, aged 22, participated virtually in a court hearing that day where prosecutors “presented seven charges related to Charlie Kirk's slaying and stated their intention to pursue capital punishment.”
Keaton’s remarks came as other public figures also shared their perspectives on the killing. On Tuesday, Amanda Seyfried posted in the comments of an Instagram video compiling Charlie's pronouncements on abortion, LGBTQIA+ individuals, trans rights, immigration, and various other topics.
“He was full of hatred,” the 39-year-old Seyfried remarked on the upload. The previous day, the actress appeared to allude to his demise on her Instagram Stories, posting, “You cannot welcome aggression to the table and then be surprised when it begins to consume.”
Additional Hollywood figures responded to Charlie's passing shortly after news of the assassination became public, including Chris Pratt who shared on X, “My thoughts are with Charlie Kirk, his wife, and his young children, and for our nation,” while Jimmy Kimmel posted on Instagram, “Rather than angry accusations, could we simply concur for a single day that taking another human life with a gun is appalling and barbaric?”
