Simone Johnson, the 24-year-old daughter of actor and wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson who performs in WWE as Ava Raine, was criticized on social media after reposting comments about kindness following the fatal shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed Wednesday while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University. He was 31 and is survived by his wife, Erika, and two children.
Johnson reposted an Instagram story from comedian Gianmarco Soresi that read, "If you want people to have kind words when you pass, you should say kind things when you're alive." She later reposted the sentiment on X and added, "and i'll stand behind this. be kind, now more than ever." The posts did not mention Kirk by name.
Her posts drew sharp responses from some wrestling fans and social-media users, with several calling for WWE to distance itself from her work. One user tagged WWE executive Paul "Triple H" Levesque and asked whether the company wanted Johnson "representing the younger part of the company." Other responses included calls for her firing and insults directed at her and her family.
The online backlash to Johnson’s posts comes amid broader viral reaction to Kirk’s death and to expressions of commentary by public figures and employees in sports and media. A communications aide for the Carolina Panthers, Charlie Rock, was fired after mocking Kirk’s death on social media. Gerald Bourguet, a Phoenix Suns beat writer for the ALLCITY Network, was also removed from his role after calling Kirk an "evil man," remarks that Bourguet defended by saying political disagreement is not the same as celebrating gun violence.
At the same time, several professional sports franchises paused to observe moments of silence for Kirk. Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees and the NFL’s Green Bay Packers led the tributes earlier in the week, and on Sunday several more NFL teams — including the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals — also halted proceedings before kickoff. Other teams, including the Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts and Minnesota Vikings, did not hold tributes.
Kirk had been a prominent conservative voice and founder of the activist group Turning Point USA. His assassination has intensified debate about political rhetoric, security at public events and the responsibilities of public figures and employers when employees comment on politically charged incidents. Employers in sports and media have already taken disciplinary action in some cases, and the public response on social media has ranged from condemnation of celebratory or mocking remarks to expressions of grief and calls for civility.
WWE has not publicly announced any personnel action related to Johnson’s posts as of Monday. Representatives for Johnson and for Turning Point USA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The shooting and the reaction to it have underscored wider tensions over how deaths of political figures are discussed on social platforms, and how organizations balance free expression with reputational and employment considerations in the aftermath of high-profile violence.