LIV Golf star Phil Mickelson on Sunday denounced what he called "disgusting rhetoric" from those who have praised the accused shooter in the killing of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.
Kirk, 31, was shot and killed while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The shooting touched off a 33-hour manhunt that ended with the arrest of Tyler Robinson on Friday in connection with the incident.
Mickelson, who posts on the social platform X, said the killing had revealed both "the best in humanity" and "some of the worst." In a post responding to a statement from the president of the Oxford Union, he wrote: "The unification, love, support, and outcry on his behalf throughout the world is heartwarming. The number of people supporting Tyler Robinson’s appalling behavior has opened my eyes to a side of extremism with a moral superiority complex that has also shaken my belief in people in general. I hope they are held accountable for their disgusting rhetoric."
Mickelson also shared a clip of a debate featuring Kirk, saying the young conservative's debating ability and intellect made him a target. In the clip, Kirk exchanges heated words with a student who expressed opposition to billionaires, mentioning figures such as President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
Sports leagues and athletes have paid public tribute to Kirk in the days following the shooting. The NFL observed moments of silence before Sunday games, and some stadium video boards displayed messages in Kirk's memory. A general view of a message honoring Kirk appeared on the video board at AT&T Stadium before the Dallas Cowboys–New York Giants game on Sept. 14.
Not all teams held moments of silence, according to reporting, and the responses across sports and media figures have varied. Mickelson's comments represent one of several public reactions from high-profile figures in the sports world.
Law enforcement authorities conducted an extensive search after the shooting at the Utah university. Officials have said Robinson was arrested in connection with the killing; local prosecutors have not publicly released charges or additional case details in the first statements after the arrest.
The shooting and the subsequent discussion about reactionary rhetoric have intensified national conversations about political violence and the role of inflammatory language online and in public discourse. Mickelson's post singled out those who posted messages supporting the accused shooter and said they should be held accountable for promoting or celebrating violence.
Investigators continue to develop the case, and officials have urged the public to defer to law enforcement for confirmed details as the criminal process unfolds. Meanwhile, public figures and institutions have varied in their responses to the killing and to calls for accountability for those who may have encouraged or praised the act.