Hollywood figures and other public personalities reacted with shock and grief after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, with actress Mandy Moore describing the killing as a "terrifying consequence" of political violence.
Moore, 41, who has long advocated for gun reform and campaigned for Democratic causes, used Instagram Stories to condemn the attack and reposted a message from Moms Demand Action that read, in part, "There is no room for political violence in this discourse. Ever." She added that she could not stop thinking about Kirk's wife, Erika Frantzve, and their two young children, calling the event "heartbreaking," and highlighted that a separate school shooting occurred the same day.
A wide range of entertainers and public figures expressed condolences and called for a halt to violence. Reality star Savannah Chrisley broke down in a TikTok video recalling Kirk's support during her family's legal battles and said she had been scheduled to tour with him in October. Actor Josh Duhamel wrote on Instagram that Kirk's family "no longer have him" and pleaded for an end to the "madness." Actress Candace Cameron Bure posted on Instagram Stories, writing, "We love you, Charlie. Well done, good and faithful servant." Singer Jessie James Decker said she was "sick to [her] stomach" and asked for prayers for Kirk's wife and children.
Chris Pratt posted on X that he was praying for Kirk and his family, and his wife, author Katherine Schwarzenegger, reshared a plea from her mother, Maria Shriver, denouncing the shooting as an act of violence all Americans must condemn. Former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wrote on X that politics had become "a disease" and urged people to "walk back from the extremes," calling for a rediscovery of shared humanity.
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel wrote on Instagram that for one day people should agree that it is "horrible and monstrous to shoot another human," and Stephen King tweeted that while the shooter's motivation remained unclear the incident was "another example of American gun violence." Dr. Phil posted a video on X calling Kirk's death an assassination and offered prayers for his family.
Several figures with ties to conservative media and politics also paid tribute. Jake Paul wrote on X that Kirk "got shot for telling the truth," and former President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social calling Kirk "great, and even Legendary," and expressing sympathy for Kirk's family. Turning Point USA, the conservative organization Kirk co-founded, issued a statement saying Kirk had been murdered by a gunshot during the organization's campus event.
The White House lowered the American flag to half-staff in Kirk's memory through sunset on Sept. 14. Federal and local authorities said they were continuing their investigation into the shooting.
FBI Director Kash Patel said in an initial post that a "suspect" was in custody, thanking local and state authorities for their partnership, but later clarified that a person of interest who had been detained was released after an interrogation. "Our investigation continues and we will continue to release information in interest of transparency," Patel wrote.
Public commentary reflected both personal grief and broader concerns about political and gun-related violence. Some entertainers highlighted the vulnerability of noncombatants when firearms are used, noting that gunfire does not distinguish among political beliefs. Others urged calm and condemned the killing without advancing political arguments.
Kirk, a prominent conservative organizer and co-founder of Turning Point USA, had drawn both staunch support and criticism for his political activism in recent years. The shooting occurred during a campus event billed as part of Turning Point USA's "The American Comeback Tour." Authorities have not released details about a motive or the circumstances that preceded the gunfire.
As investigations continue, public figures across the political spectrum called for restraint and condolences for the Kirk family. The wide array of reactions underscored the event's resonance across entertainment, media and political circles and renewed debate about political rhetoric, campus safety and gun violence in the United States.