Jamie Lee Curtis grew emotional on Marc Maron’s podcast while speaking about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, expressing sympathy for his family and emphasizing his faith despite saying she disagreed with his politics.
On Monday’s episode of "WTF," the 66-year-old actress choked up as she recounted seeing footage of Kirk’s fatal shooting and reflected on the possible psychological effects of repeated exposure to violent imagery. "I believe he was a man of faith, and I hope in that moment when he died that he felt connected to his faith," Curtis said. She added that, although she found Kirk’s ideas "abhorrent," she recognized him as "a father and a husband and a man of faith."
Curtis began the exchange by saying, "I'm going to bring something up with you just because it's front of mind. Charlie Crist was killed two days ago," prompting Maron to correct her: "Kirk, not Crist." She responded, "I just call him Crist, I think, because of Christ, because of his deep belief." The actress said she had "nothing politically in common" with Kirk and "disagreed with him on almost every point," but paused several times while speaking and fought back tears as she described not wanting to watch footage of the killing replayed.
She also connected the episode to a broader cultural concern about constant exposure to televised trauma, citing examples such as the 9/11 attacks and footage of Kirk being shot "over and over and over again." Curtis, who noted she was born five years to the day after President John F. Kennedy's assassination, said society may be "saturated with these images" and that the psychological consequences are not fully understood.
Kirk, 31, was shot and killed on Sept. 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, during an event tied to his "American Comeback Tour." Authorities say 22-year-old Tyler Robinson fired the fatal shot, prompting a multi-day manhunt that ended with Robinson's arrest. Prosecutors have said Robinson has refused to cooperate with the FBI as it investigates the killing.
Turning Point USA, the conservative nonprofit organization Kirk founded in 2012, released a statement honoring him as a father and noting that "above all, he wished to be remembered for his faith." Former President Donald Trump publicly announced Kirk's death and said he would posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Curtis’ comments came amid a wave of public responses to the killing that spanned political allies, opponents and cultural figures. Her remarks focused on the human dimensions of the tragedy and the potential long-term effects on a society that repeatedly views violent events through television and social media. She framed her reaction through personal and historical lenses while stopping short of engaging with the politics surrounding Kirk’s activism.
Authorities have continued their investigation into the shooting, and legal proceedings relating to the suspect have not concluded. Media coverage of the killing has included both video of the attack and extensive commentary, fueling ongoing debate about the circulation of violent content and its effects on viewers.