An online post that misattributed a statement to San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle regarding conservative activist Charlie Kirk circulated on social media this week, prompting a swift response from Kittle’s wife. Claire Kittle condemned the fabrication in an Instagram Story, calling the spread ‘sick’ for inventing and sharing such content and for forcing George to address it publicly. The post claimed that Kittle said football should be about the game, the competition and the fans — not politics — and urged people to stop mentioning Kirk. Claire Kittle later wrote that the quote was fake and urged followers to leave the couple alone.
Tuesday’s post appeared on Facebook via an account named ‘Red And Gold Legacy,’ according to SFGATE. A day later, George Kittle posted a screengrab of the quote and told his followers to ignore the account and other fake reports. “I hope most of you realize that,” Kittle wrote, adding that the account “only posts fake news/reports” and that the messages he received had compelled him to address the matter. Meta subsequently told SFGATE that the Red And Gold page had been removed. SFGATE’s investigation identified dozens of other fraudulent Facebook pages that pressed into anger over Kirk’s death by circulating doctored quotes from NFL stars.
Claire further urged readers to research before drawing conclusions, telling followers on Instagram to “do one ounce of research before jumping to conclusions” and to “not attack people based off the latest headline.” The episode comes as Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist, was assassinated last week while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University, a development that has amplified scrutiny of online discourse around Kirk and heightened concerns about misinformation surrounding public figures in the wake of real-world tragedy.
In football terms, Kittle started the season with a productive showing in Week 1, catching four passes for 25 yards and a touchdown in the 49ers’ win. He left the game with a hamstring injury and was placed on injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least the next three games after sitting out Week 2. The nine-year veteran had signed a four-year, $76 million extension in April after a 2024 campaign that earned him a Pro Bowl nod for a fourth consecutive year.
Claire Kittle has repeatedly pushed back against online speculation, urging fans to treat coverage with caution and to avoid targeting families based on headlines. The broader incident underscores how misinformation can spread quickly on social platforms, especially when tied to high-profile athletes and ongoing real-world events. The Kittle family has sought space to recover while continuing to support George’s return, and the NFL community watches how platforms respond to fake content that intersects sports, politics and tragedy.
