Abbie Chatfield has been criticised after posting private messages from a woman who accused her of celebrating the fatal shooting of U.S. conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
Chatfield, an Australian media personality and influencer, wrote on social media that she "hates" Kirk but that his death "isn't good for anyone," warning that political violence could escalate and polarise the country further. She later shared private messages and the profile of a critic with her roughly 578,000 followers, drawing accusations that she had exposed a private individual to harassment.
The exchange began after reports that Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was shot last Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University. Chatfield posted: "Even though I hate Charlie Kirk, this isn't good for anyone. The right (and possibly the left) will become more violent in replacement of actual democracy. He will be martyred. They won't see that this is BECAUSE of right-wing views on gun control that this could even happen. It will cause tensions to rise and drive people further apart than we already are. If this is the beginning, then what's to come?"
A Queensland nurse replied, accusing Chatfield of being "happy about someone's death purely for using his voice" and alleging Chatfield had spread "fake stuff to young minds." The nurse also referenced Chatfield's past on the reality show The Bachelor, an exchange that quickly escalated into a public dispute. Chatfield denied celebrating or laughing about Kirk's death and asked the critic to provide examples of her alleged comments; she also said rumours that she had laughed about the shooting endangered her life.
Several commentators and social media users condemned Chatfield's decision to publish screenshots and identifying information from a private conversation. "As a woman who knows what it's like to receive death threats, I cannot believe you would subject that onto anyone else," said one critic, who said she was shocked to see the messages shared publicly. Others defended Chatfield, saying she was trying to defend herself against false accusations.
Chatfield said the attention she receives as a prominent voice on Australian media has made her a target. She posted a quote from Kirk alongside the Alanis Morissette song "Ironic," in which Kirk was quoted as saying: "I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights." Chatfield wrote that her profile has made her "the face of the left in mainstream Australian media," and said she has received threats, abuse and doxxing that have affected her sense of safety.
The controversy comes amid an ongoing U.S. investigation into the killing of Kirk. Authorities say the suspect, identified as Tyler Robinson, held what Utah officials described as a "leftist ideology" and may have been radicalised online. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said friends of the suspect told investigators he had spent time in "deep, dark internet" communities that promote extremist views. Cox also said the suspect's romantic partner was a male transitioning to female, but investigators have not confirmed whether that relationship was relevant to the motive.
Authorities have described the shooting as a targeted political attack. Robinson was arrested at the scene and has been charged in connection with the killing, law enforcement officials said. The investigation remains active as federal and local authorities continue to probe the suspect's background and online activity.
The incident and subsequent online debate underscore broader concerns about political violence and the role of social media in amplifying polarisation. Commentators in Australia and the United States have used the episode to question how public figures and influencers respond to violent events and how private citizens are treated when they confront prominent personalities online.
Chatfield said she has endured threats and that police responses in some cases had been dismissive. "I endure hundreds of comments and messages every day that range from snarky to abusive to threats and fantasies of violence and rape. Sometimes with my address included," she wrote. She described measures she has taken locally for personal safety and said the situation has worsened over the past year.
The dispute over Chatfield's actions has divided viewers and commentators. Some see her posts as a defensive reaction to being falsely accused of celebrating a killing. Others said publicising private messages risked exposing an ordinary person to the same abuse Chatfield says she receives. The broader criminal investigation into Kirk's death continues in the United States, while the episode has renewed debate about online conduct, doxxing and the safety of public figures and private citizens in politically charged environments.