Bluesky on Thursday warned users to stop "glorifying violence" after a wave of posts celebrated the fatal shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk and urged violence against other high-profile figures, including author J.K. Rowling.
The platform's safety account said posts praising the attack — which occurred Wednesday at Utah Valley University — violated Bluesky's community rules and that the company reviews reports and takes action against content that "celebrates harm against anyone." The notice added: "Violence has no place in healthy public discourse, and we're committed to fostering healthy, open conversations."
The posts on Bluesky surfaced after Kirk, 31, was shot in the neck about 20 minutes into a debate-style forum at the university’s "American Comeback" event. Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was rushed from the stage to Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Orem, where he was pronounced dead.
Following the shooting, some users on Bluesky openly celebrated the killing and suggested additional targets. Messages cited in open posts named Rowling and several conservative commentators, and some called for violence against former President Donald Trump. One post quoted in media accounts said, "Can we get JK Rowling next?" while another said "Go get Trump next." Bluesky officials said those kinds of posts violate its rules and may result in suspension or removal under the platform's "Cardinal Directions."
Rowling responded on X on Thursday, condemning those who endorse political violence and warning against illiberal impulses. "If you believe free speech is for you but not your political opponents, you're illiberal," she wrote. "If no contrary evidence could change your beliefs, you're a fundamentalist. If you believe the state should punish those with contrary views, you're a totalitarian. If you believe political opponents should be punished with violence or death, you're a terrorist."
Law enforcement officials said the suspected shooter remains at large. Authorities described the suspect as a college-aged male with proficiency in firearms and a likely familiarity with the university campus. A single shot was heard during the event and surveillance footage later showed a person running across a rooftop after the attack.
Investigators have appealed for public help identifying the suspect, offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman said he would add $1 million to the FBI's reward, increasing the total bounty being publicly advertised.
Kirk's death prompted an outpouring of tributes and condemnation across the political spectrum. President Donald Trump and other conservative figures led tributes to Kirk, who had campaigned to promote conservative values and limited government among young people.
Bluesky, launched publicly in 2023 after becoming independent from a 2019 internal project at Twitter, has positioned itself as a left-leaning alternative to X. The smaller social network drew millions of users who objected to changes at X after Elon Musk's acquisition of the platform, advertising stronger rules against hate speech and promoting community governance. Bluesky said it has systems to review and act on reports of content that celebrates violence.
Company officials did not disclose how many accounts had been flagged in the aftermath of the shooting. According to material on the platform, its "Cardinal Directions" outline enforcement for users who violate community standards, including those who promote or celebrate violence.
The shooting has prompted a broader discussion about online speech and the responsibilities of platforms. Civil rights groups and policy experts have long debated how social networks should handle content that encourages violence while balancing free-expression concerns. Bluesky’s statement framed the issue as enforcing existing community standards rather than changing policy.
Kirk leaves behind his wife, Erika Frantzve, and two young children. Turning Point USA said it mourned the loss of its founder and called for investigators to bring the shooter to justice. The manhunt and the platform responses are continuing as investigators process forensic evidence and review footage from the scene.
Authorities have asked anyone with information about the shooting to contact the FBI and local law enforcement. Bluesky urged users to report content that promotes or celebrates violence through the platform’s reporting tools as investigators search for the suspect and law-enforcement officials continue to piece together the circumstances of the attack.