Jezebel on Thursday issued a statement clarifying the timing of a September 8 article that described paying sellers on Etsy to cast curses on public figures, after the piece drew renewed attention when conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot at a college event two days later.
The website said the story was published Sept. 8 and that it "condemned the shooting of Charlie Kirk in the strongest possible terms." Jezebel added, "We do not endorse, encourage, or excuse political violence of any kind."
The Jezebel piece, written in the first person, described browsing Etsy listings for spells and hiring practitioners to lay curses. The author discussed a range of purported services available on the platform and specifically named Kirk as a target of annoyance, citing his politics and public profile. The article included passages acknowledging a moral "gray area" in cursing a person the author had not met and said the writer did not intend to call for harm.
Kirk, 31, the co-founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, was shot Wednesday while speaking at an event on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem. Video circulating on social media and verified by The Associated Press shows Kirk seated under a tent when a single shot rang out; he can be seen reaching toward his neck as blood is visible. He was taken to a hospital and later died, officials said.
Authorities said the shooter fired from a building roof some distance from the courtyard where the event took place. No suspect was in custody late Wednesday, and investigators were searching for a person of interest, a law enforcement official familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. Two people detained earlier were released after investigators determined they were not connected to the shooting, Utah public safety officials said.
The shooting occurred at an event billed as the first stop of Kirk's "The American Comeback Tour," which drew an estimated 3,000 attendees, according to the Utah Department of Public Safety. Campus police and Kirk's security detail were on site at the time of the attack. University officials evacuated the campus and canceled classes until further notice.
Witness video shows the event near its end as Kirk took questions from an audience member about mass shootings and gun violence. The exchange included a question referencing transgender people and mass shootings; the questioner asked how many mass shooters were transgender in the past decade, and Kirk replied, "Too many." The follow-up question was underway when the shot was fired.
President Donald Trump posted on social media announcing Kirk's death and later released a recorded message calling Kirk a "martyr for truth and freedom," blaming the rhetoric of the "radical left" for the killing. The shooting drew condemnation across the political spectrum and renewed discussion about political violence in the United States.
Utah authorities said they had not yet identified a motive. The circumstances of the attack prompted heightened scrutiny of political rhetoric and online content that targets public figures, including commentary about the Jezebel article because of its timing.
Jezebel's Sept. 8 article framed its experiment with Etsy-based spell work in the context of political tribalism, noting that some online communities have directed occult practices at political figures. The article's author described intending to use small inconveniences — such as a sudden blemish or equipment malfunctions — rather than harm, and wrote about reclaiming the term "witch" amid disputes over gender and power.
In its Thursday statement, Jezebel reiterated the article's publication date and condemned the shooting. The outlet did not suggest any link between its piece and the attack and emphasized opposition to violence.
Investigators continued to canvass the neighborhood around the campus, asking residents for information and showing photos to potential witnesses. Officials said they would hold the shooter accountable, and Utah's governor said state and local authorities were coordinating the response.
The incident follows a series of politically motivated and high-profile attacks in recent years that federal and local officials have said underscore persistent threats of violence tied to political disputes. Law enforcement agencies have increasingly tracked threats across ideological lines as part of efforts to prevent attacks and prosecute those responsible.
Kirk built a national profile through frequent media appearances and his youth-focused conservative organization. His tour stop at Utah Valley University had prompted debate on campus and an online petition urging administrators to bar his appearance; the university defended the event on free-speech grounds.
As investigations continue, officials urged anyone with information about the shooting to contact local law enforcement. Jezebel's clarification and expressions of condemnation came as public attention focused on both the fatal attack and the online and media environment that preceded it.