The “Mamma Mia!” actress, Amanda Seyfried, has further explained her comments regarding the passing of Charlie Kirk.
The 39-year-old actress took to social media to express her thoughts on the 31-year-old’s death, labeling him as ‘hateful.’ Kirk was killed while participating in a Q&A session at a Turning Point USA event on Wednesday, September 10.
Two days after the incident, law enforcement officials arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson from Utah. Robinson faces multiple charges, including aggravated murder and witness tampering.
Following Kirk’s death, Seyfried made a comment on an Instagram post that highlighted Kirk’s political views on various issues such as abortion, immigration, and LGBTQIA+ rights. She wrote, “He was hateful.”
In addition, Seyfried shared a post on her social media, which many believed referenced Kirk’s passing.
The post quoted, “You can’t invite violence to the dinner table and be shocked when it starts eating.”
In light of the backlash over her previous comments and post, Seyfried has sought to clarify her perspective.
She shared a statement on Instagram with the caption: “I don’t want to add fuel to a fire. I just want to be able to give clarity to something so irresponsibly (but understandably) taken out of context. Spirited discourse- isn’t that what we should be having?”
The statement read: “We’re forgetting the nuance of humanity. I can get angry about misogyny and racist rhetoric and ALSO very much agree that Charlie Kirk’s murder was absolutely disturbing and deplorable in every way imaginable. No one should have to experience this level of violence. This country is grieving too many senseless and violent deaths and shootings. Can we agree on that at least?”
Seyfried is not alone in facing criticism for comments made following Kirk’s death.
Actor Michael Keaton, known for his role as Batman, also faced backlash for remarks on the ‘irony’ of Kirk’s death by gunfire, given Kirk’s previous stance against gun control. “Before we start to get into the meat of this thing, I’m going to take a minute to say that, regardless of how I probably — not probably — have disagreed with many things he said, Charlie Kirk leaves behind two kids and a wife,” he stated. “Because in the end, shooting people will never answer anything, and the irony that he was killed with a gun is unbelievable.”
Additionally, Ava Raine, daughter of WWE icon Dwayne Johnson, encountered criticism online for a post perceived as a reaction to Kirk’s death.