British punk-rap artist Bob Vylan drew criticism after he appeared to celebrate the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a concert in Amsterdam on Saturday, telling the crowd "rest in piss" as they cheered.
Kirk, 31, a conservative commentator and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed Wednesday while engaging in a debate during a campus appearance at Utah Valley University. Police said he was shot in the neck after a question about transgender mass shooters; authorities arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson on Friday after his father turned him in.
At the Amsterdam show, Vylan introduced a song by saying, "I want to dedicate this next one to an absolute piece of s--- of a human being," and followed with, "The pronouns was/were. Because if you talk s---, you will get banged. Rest in piss Charlie Kirk, you piece of s---," according to video clips from the performance.
Vylan, whose real name is not widely reported, has been a controversial figure in recent months. British officials revoked his U.S. visa in June after he chanted "death to the IDF" during a performance at the Glastonbury Festival. On Sunday, he posted a video denying that his Amsterdam remarks constituted a celebration of Kirk's death, saying, "At no point during yesterday's show was Charlie Kirk's death celebrated, at no point, whatsoever, did we celebrate Charlie Kirk's death."
The shooting, which has reverberated through political and media circles, prompted immediate debate over rhetoric and political violence. In the weeks and months before his death, Kirk warned about what he described as an "assassination culture" on the left, posting in April that a substantial portion of liberals said it would be at least somewhat justified to murder public figures, citing a poll he linked to in the post.
In the aftermath of the killing, some public figures and commentators on the left were accused of celebrating or implying that Kirk had it coming because of his views. Matthew Dowd, a former analyst for MSNBC, said Kirk was "one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures" and described his commentary as "constantly pushing 'hate speech.'" Dowd was later fired by the network for his remarks.
Law enforcement investigators have not publicly attributed a motive for the shooting. Robinson was taken into custody without incident after his father reported him to police, officials said. The investigation remains ongoing and authorities have urged anyone with relevant information to come forward.
Reactions to Vylan's remarks were swift on social media and in conservative media outlets, which condemned the comments as celebratory of political violence. Supporters of Vylan defended his right to free expression but varied in whether they viewed the statements as appropriate or targeted praise of a killing.
Charlie Kirk was a prominent conservative organizer and commentator who founded Turning Point USA, a group focused on conservative activism on college campuses. He is survived by two children. The killing has intensified debates about campus security, the tone of political discourse and the potential consequences of heated rhetoric.
Vylan has not announced plans to return to the United States, and there was no immediate indication of any legal action against him arising from the Amsterdam comments. Authorities in Utah continue to investigate the circumstances of the shooting and the motive, and prosecutors have not yet announced whether they will file charges in the case.
The episode has added to an already fraught national conversation about the intersection of entertainment, politics and violence, with questions emerging about how public figures discuss opponents and how audiences interpret incendiary language. Officials and commentators across the political spectrum have urged restraint and called for a careful investigation into the killing as legal authorities continue their work.