Kristin Chenoweth tearfully addressed backlash Thursday over her tribute to late Charlie Kirk, saying in an NY1 interview that she had a human moment of heartbreak and that her emotions got involved.
In the exchange with NY1’s Frank DiLella, Chenoweth was asked about the mixed reactions to her post mourning Kirk, who openly opposed same-sex marriage and trans rights. “Mixed? You’re being kind,” the Tony winner replied as she began to tear up. She said she had seen the online conversation and felt a personal need to reflect on what she posted, noting that she would never want to offend her followers. She referenced the viral video of Kirk being shot at Utah Valley University as part of the moment that moved her to respond.
Chenoweth said she is a Christian and a long-standing advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, arguing that faith and advocacy can coexist. She also acknowledged her excitement about an upcoming Broadway project, the show “The Queen of Versailles,” saying her faith and her support for LGBTQ+ rights remain integral to who she is.
In the same message mourning Kirk, Chenoweth wrote that she did not always agree with him but appreciated some perspectives. “What a heartbreak. His young family. I know where he is now. Heaven. But still,” she wrote in part, adding that the fatal shooting was a “sad, senseless and disgusting act.” She later clarified that she did “not always agree with” the late commentator but did “appreciate some perspectives,” and she urged a civil, spirited discourse rather than “adding fuel to the fire.”
Charlie Kirk died after being shot at a Utah Valley University event on Sept. 10. He is survived by his wife Erika and their two children. Chenoweth’s remarks come as other celebrities weighed in on the tragedy; Jamie Lee Curtis cried during an interview while explaining she disagreed with much of Kirk’s views, and Amanda Seyfried called him “hateful” on social media before clarifying the nuance of her stance. The actress emphasized that while she can be angry about misogyny and racist rhetoric, she still condemns violence and hopes public dialogue can remain constructive.
The report notes that Kirk’s death has prompted a range of responses from the entertainment community, reflecting a broader conversation about how public figures are memorialized when their views clash with fans and constituents. Chenoweth’s experience, she suggested, underscores the tension between personal beliefs and public accountability in a moment of national conversation about hate, violence and civil discourse.