British comedienne Gina Yashere has drawn attention for a series of online remarks about the fatal shooting of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was killed while speaking at an event in Utah last week.
In a post that circulated widely on social media, Yashere — who has won a role in the forthcoming television series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy — said Kirk “got what Charlie Kirk had advocated for,” adding that he “wanted more guns on the streets” and “didn't mind a few kids being shot to death in their classrooms or the odd Democrat being murdered in their home.”
Yashere, 51, who was born in north London and rose to fame on British panel shows including Mock the Week, also wrote that she did not “believe in heaven and hell,” but added: “But just in case there is, Charlie Kirk is going down there. And if he does, I hope he gets dropped off by a black pilot.” That sentence referenced a comment Kirk made last year expressing concerns about what he described as "positive discrimination" in hiring pilots: “If I see a black pilot, I'm going to be, like, boy, I hope he's qualified,” he said.
Kirk, 31, a prominent supporter of former President Donald Trump and a campaigner on free-speech issues, was married and had two young children. His death prompted an outpouring of grief and anger worldwide. Reports indicate the shooting occurred while Kirk was speaking at a Utah event; police and local authorities have been handling the investigation.
Yashere, who has worked in the United States for several years and has spoken publicly about leaving Britain to escape being treated as “second best,” has described her move to the U.S. as enabling her to be open about her sexual orientation. She has said she would not have publicly come out as a lesbian while living in Britain.
The online remarks are the latest instance in which a public figure's reaction to an act of political violence has become a news item, drawing scrutiny on social media and in news coverage. Yashere's career spans stand-up comedy, television appearances in the U.K. and U.S., and now a credited role in an upcoming American television project.
In other entertainment and society items, Sir Paul McCartney recently appeared on his daughter Mary McCartney’s television cooking show, where he showcased a sweeter version of the margarita he calls the “Maccarita.” Mary McCartney, a photographer and vegetarian cookbook author, has applied to trademark the name “Skyfire” at the U.K. Intellectual Property Office for potential use across a range of drinks, including wines, beers, cider, spirits and liqueurs.
At Longleat House in Wiltshire, Emma Weymouth, the Marchioness of Bath and a 2019 Strictly Come Dancing participant, wore the three-peak Bath Tiara to a party timed with the annual Icons of the Sky event, which featured a Spitfire air display, parachutist aerobatics and hot-air balloons.
Former government minister Peter Mandelson, who was dismissed from his role as Labour’s representative in Washington last week, is reported to be staying at the British ambassador’s residence for a short period because his collie, Jock, reportedly needs medical treatment before he can travel. A Foreign Office spokesman described the claim as being played down.
Chef Jamie Oliver, promoting his book Eat Yourself Healthy, said a medical checkup about 18 months ago prompted him to address his weight, acknowledging in an interview that, as someone “paid to eat,” he sometimes overeats despite focusing on good food.
At the Goodwood Revival in West Sussex, Lady Martha Sitwell — the ex-wife of Sir George Sitwell — wore a hat by milliner Victoria Grant that featured a row of cigarette ends, an item Grant said was chosen to reflect Sitwell’s known preference. Actress and musician Guy Pearce recalled an awkward encounter with Sir John Hurt while filming the 2005 movie The Proposition, saying he had told Hurt how much The Elephant Man had meant to him and received an abrupt response.
Reports related to all items in this article are drawn from accounts of public comments, recent events and interviews. Officials investigating the Utah shooting have not tied public commentary to investigative developments; statements quoted here were posted publicly and attributed to the speakers.