Eileen Davidson, an alum of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, drew widespread online criticism after reposting a message on Instagram that critics said appeared to mock the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The repost read, "I am not in support of what happened to Charlie Kirk but Charlie Kirk was in support of what happened to Charlie Kirk." A screenshot of the post was uploaded to Reddit and, according to that post, had received roughly 59,000 upvotes and more than 700 comments. Davidson later deleted the repost and responded to backlash on her account, writing, "Never ever in one million years would I celebrate the assassination of anybody, ever. Please don't twist things around." She also replied to critics with comments that included, "I stand by my post, sweetie," and "Don't be insipid."
The controversy follows the Sept. 2025 killing of Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, who was shot during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem that drew thousands of attendees. Authorities have arrested a 22-year-old Utah man, Tyler Robinson, and charged him in connection with the slaying. Kirk’s death intensified public debate about political rhetoric and violence in the United States.
Davidson, 66, has been an outspoken critic of Kirk’s politics on social media in the days since the shooting, reposting clips of his past remarks and sharing texts that described him as a "right-wing hate merchant." One clip she highlighted included a past Kirk remark about abortion. Other reposts she shared included commentary that criticized political violence and the ways commentators and supporters frame such events.
Supporters and critics responded quickly online. Several of Davidson’s followers defended her, saying her words were being taken out of context and urging others to consider her broader commentary on Kirk’s rhetoric. Critics called the repost insensitive and accused her of mocking a death. Davidson’s Instagram account showed roughly 275,200 followers at the time of the exchanges.
Davidson is best known for her roles on daytime dramas and as a former full-time cast member on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills from seasons five through seven. She has won two Daytime Emmy Awards for lead actress roles on Days of Our Lives and The Young and the Restless. In recent years she has scaled back reality television work to concentrate on acting and has made guest appearances on later seasons of the Bravo series.
The shooting that killed Kirk has been widely covered and remains under investigation by local and federal authorities. Witness accounts and a subsequent arrest have focused attention on the pace and tone of political discourse, with commentators across the spectrum debating connections between rhetoric and violence. Kirk, a polarizing figure in conservative activism, drew both fervent support and strong criticism for his public statements and organizing.
Davidson’s exchange underscores how quickly social media commentary can ignite debate after a high-profile tragedy. News outlets sought comment from Davidson; the Daily Mail reported reaching out to her for further response. Davidson’s now-deleted post and subsequent replies illustrate the fraught interplay between personal commentary, public mourning and political critique that has accompanied coverage of the killing.
As investigators continue their work into the circumstances of Kirk's death, public figures who weigh in on social media are receiving intensified scrutiny, and online conversations remain sharply divided over responsibility, rhetoric and the boundaries of acceptable commentary following acts of violence.