Brittany Mahomes, the wife of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and co-owner of the NWSL's Kansas City Current, reposted a quote about hate on her Instagram story following the assassination of far-right activist Charlie Kirk.
The post, originally attributed to author Sharon McMahon, read: "Hate will not get us out of this mess. Your feelings might lie and try to tell you otherwise, but hate doesn't know how to heal or build, only how to harm and destroy." Mahomes did not add any further comment or explain whether the post referred directly to the killing.
The post came in the days after Kirk was shot and killed at an event in Utah on Wednesday. Authorities in the state announced on Friday that they had arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson in connection with the shooting.
Mahomes, who has a high-profile role in sports and frequent social media visibility, has previously attracted attention for posts and interactions with political content. The Texas native has not publicly declared a party affiliation. In the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election she drew criticism after "liking" a Make America Great Again post on Instagram, and she previously exchanged brief public comments with then-candidate Donald Trump.
Reactions across the sports world to Kirk's death have varied. Several NFL players publicly denounced the shooting, including Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart and Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, who has been a vocal Trump supporter in the past, said he felt the need to increase his security following the killing. The Carolina Panthers dismissed a member of their communications staff after the employee made a joke about the incident, and a U.S. Team cycling athlete drew scrutiny after celebrating Kirk's death.
Mahomes's repost added to broader conversation about how public figures and athletes respond to politically charged violence. Some in athletics and media emphasized calls for restraint and safety, while others criticized the tone of social-media reactions from both sides of the political spectrum.
Officials have not disclosed a motive for the shooting. Investigators in Utah said their inquiry was ongoing after the arrest of Robinson. Kirk was a prominent conservative commentator and the founder of Turning Point USA; his death prompted reactions from political leaders and commentators nationally, along with calls for heightened security at public events.
Mahomes has continued to maintain a public profile through her involvement with the Kansas City Current and other ventures. The team and the NFL have been among institutions navigating heightened scrutiny over how players, staff and affiliated public figures address political controversy and violence.
As the criminal case proceeds, authorities and campus officials in Utah have urged caution and emphasized their commitment to public safety at future events. Mahomes's repost underscores the intersection of sports, celebrity and politics, where brief social-media actions can become part of national conversations in the wake of a high-profile killing.