Stephen King Apologizes for False Claim About Charlie Kirk

Stephen King issued multiple apologies after falsely accusing conservative activist Charlie Kirk of advocating the stoning of gay people in a now-deleted social media post following Kirk's fatal shooting at Utah Valley University. The claim was debunked by numerous commentators and supporters who highlighted Kirk's respectful treatment of gay individuals and his stance welcoming them into the conservative movement. King's initial apology was met with skepticism and criticism from figures including Senator Ted Cruz and Utah Senator Mike Lee, with some calling for legal action against King for defamation. Despite the backlash, King maintained that his misstatement resulted from taking Kirk's podcast comments out of context about biblical passages. The controversy unfolded while King was promoting a new film adaptation of his novel "The Long Walk," adding to the attention. Many observers saw the incident as a reflection of the heightened political polarization and the dangers of spreading falsehoods without fact-checking.