Students have sparked outrage by posting videos on social media that appear to reenact the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on the first anniversary of his death. The disturbing trend emerged this week, with young people mimicking the fatal shooting in school hallways and classrooms, often accompanied by music and celebratory declarations like 'Happy Kirkaversary.'
SOURCE1 The videos typically show participants pretending to shoot one another, followed by a choreographed dance that seemingly references Kirk's involuntary reaction after being shot. The trend utilizes audio combining a song released after Kirk's death, 'We Are Charlie Kirk,' with Soulja Boy's 2007 hit 'Crank That.'
Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was 31 when he was assassinated on September 10, 2025, during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University. He was taking questions from an audience at the time of the shooting.
Republican South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace criticized the trend, telling The New York Post, 'Mocking an assassination with simulated gunfire and a victory dance isn't edgy, brave, or political - it's just cruelty choreographed for clicks. Sends the wrong message.'
The anniversary mockery was not limited to students. Naima Troutt, 24, who had previously debated Kirk at the University of Southern California, also posted a video referencing his assassination. Troutt used audio from Kirk's final exchange before he was shot as part of an outfit-reveal video. In the clip, she mouthed his final words – 'counting or not counting gang violence' – before snapping her head sideways as the sound of the fatal gunshot was heard. The footage then cut to Troutt in a different outfit, winking at the camera. Troutt captioned the post, 'This is how i grieve, leave me alone.'
Troutt's video drew criticism from commenters who pointed out that Kirk had previously debated her. One Instagram user wrote, 'Charlie was kind to you…why would you dehumanize him in this way when he treated you with respect?' Conservative commentator Micah Kunkle added, 'This is sick and disgusting. What happened to trying to humanize people we disagree with?'
Kirk's assassination sent shockwaves through American politics, renewing concerns about political violence and the increasingly polarized nature of public discourse. Supporters of Kirk marked the anniversary of his death by remembering the activist and the organization he built.