Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s daughter drew swift online criticism after reposting a social-media message and adding her own comment hours after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking at a Utah university.
Simone Johnson, 24, who performs as Ava Raine in WWE, shared an Instagram story that reposted a post from comedian Gianmarco Soresi reading, “If you want people to have kind words when you pass, you should say kind things when you’re alive.” According to screenshots circulated online, Raine then reposted the message on X and added, “and i’ll stand behind this. be kind, now more than ever.” The posts came on Wednesday, hours after Kirk was shot while addressing a crowd at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025.
The timing of the comments prompted outrage from some WWE fans and critics online, who called the remark insensitive and questioned whether Raine’s ties to WWE and parent Dwayne Johnson would shield her from consequences. Responses included calls for WWE or its parent company TKO Group to take action and a flood of critical replies, some pairing the criticism with a viral gif of Johnson shouting at a wrestling match. Social-media users also invoked the term "nepo baby" in reference to Raine’s industry connections.
The backlash unfolded amid a broader wave of condemnation and, in some cases, employment consequences for people who posted flippant or celebratory comments about Kirk’s killing. The Carolina Panthers said they had fired communications staffer Charlie Rock for what they called an insensitive social-media post. Media and other organizations also severed ties with individuals who made disturbing or mocking posts in the hours after the shooting, according to news reports.
Law-enforcement officials have identified 22-year-old Tyler Robinson as a suspect in the killing and said he is expected to be charged with aggravated murder. Investigators said they believe Robinson acted alone. Under Utah law, aggravated murder is the only offense that can carry the death penalty; prosecutors must specifically seek that sentence.
Some institutions and sports teams have opted to honor Kirk with moments of silence or other remembrances. The New York Yankees observed a moment of silence before a game, and the New York Jets displayed photos of Kirk and his family on the stadium videoboard. League officials said individual teams would decide whether to hold such remembrances going forward; several teams did not hold moments of silence at recent games, according to reports.
Raine, the daughter of actor and former WWE star Dwayne Johnson, made her own professional debut in wrestling and has been publicly identified both by her ring name Ava Raine and her birth name, Simone Johnson. Her reposted comments were shared during the immediate aftermath of a widely covered and still-developing criminal investigation, a period that has generated intense online debate over the appropriateness of public statements and the responsibilities of public figures.
Online reaction to Raine’s posts illustrates the broader cultural and commercial scrutiny facing celebrities and their families when they comment on high-profile tragedies. Several organizations said they acted quickly to remove or discipline employees whose social-media responses were deemed to glorify the violence or otherwise cross a line, while others sought to memorialize Kirk in public venues.
As the criminal case proceeds and investigations continue, public discussion has centered on both the motives and the consequences of the shooting and on the broader social-media responses it has prompted. Prosecutors and law-enforcement officials have not announced whether they will seek capital punishment in the case; courts, attorneys and authorities are continuing the investigative and charging process.