Companies are firing workers over posts mocking Charlie Kirk

Across the US, employers are dismissing workers who have been celebrating the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk or criticizing his stance.

Companies from airlines to law firms acted quickly after social media posts surfaced. 

Online activists gathered the names of individuals who made comments and shared them with their employers. Vice President JD Vance also urged people to report anyone mocking Kirk’s killing.

Companies move to protect themselves
Businesses say they must protect reputations and avoid political blowback. 

American Airlines, Delta, and United have removed employees from duties, while Office Depot fired staff after a video showed an employee refusing to print a vigil poster. 

Microsoft confirmed it was reviewing employees’ posts after Elon Musk amplified claims about its staff.

Matthew Dowd of MSNBC was fired after he commented on-air that you can’t say awful things and “not expect awful actions to take place.” Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah said the media house sacked her after she posted Kirk’s 2023 remark about how several prominent Black women have to “go steal a white person’s slot” to be taken seriously.

False accusations add fuel
But not all cases have been clear-cut. Some employees say they were wrongly accused, with at least one school official facing threats after being falsely linked to inflammatory posts. 

The uproar highlights shrinking corporate tolerance for disruptive political speech.