Former Gawker editor Elizabeth Spiers took a sharp aim at Charlie Kirk in a post-death commentary, drawing a comparison to Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels. She labeled Kirk as “an unrepentant racist, transphobe, homophobe, and misogynist,” a harsh assessment that has surfaced in the media.
This characterization appeared in a lengthy piece titled “Charlie Kirk’s Legacy is Not Worth Mourning.”
Citing a poignant remark from California Governor Gavin Newsom regarding their slain fathers, Spiers stated: “You don’t need to engage in this whitewash campaign.”
She began the piece with the claim, “Joseph Goebbels was a talented marketer and a loving father to six children.” It’s a striking choice, to say the least.
Spiers criticized Kirk’s support for the Second Amendment, his views on feminism, and his Christian beliefs about marriage roles.
She also accused Kirk of asserting that “black women lack the cognitive ability to be taken seriously.” However, her assertion seemed to misunderstand his comments, as Kirk actually referenced specific examples of behavior he deemed positive in the realms of politics and media.
She wrote:
It’s true, I can’t know what has happened in Charlie Kirk’s mind. We aren’t telepathic, after all. But we can draw reasonable conclusions based on his statements. He has amassed a significant following and secured real political influence among young people, the president, and right-wing financial supporters.
The Nation isn’t Spiers’ first critique of those who have recently passed away—earlier, she scrutinized Hulk Hogan in a New York Times article that painted the former wrestler in a similarly unflattering light.
Spiers, who co-founded Gawker, discussed how Hogan, known personally as Terry Bollea, faced bankruptcy after a large settlement in a case concerning a leaked sex tape.
In her article, Spiers contended that Kirk’s frequent provocations were part of an act. She argued that his requests not to label his opponents as “evil” were misleading, pointing out that Kirk’s entire platform rests on depicting the opposition as dehumanized enemies.
“Some who celebrate Kirk argue that his controversial nature is acceptable since he was upfront about it,” she mentioned. “Turning Point USA did nothing to foster unity; rather, it created an environment where non-white Christian nationalists felt unwelcome. While I won’t celebrate his death, I don’t feel obligated to honor his life either.”
