Stephen King Faces Defamation Threats After Charlie Kirk Shooting Criticism

After the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, author Stephen King made controversial remarks on social media claiming that Kirk "advocated stoning gays to death," sparking widespread backlash. Republican senators Ted Cruz and Mike Lee strongly condemned King's statement, with Cruz labeling King a "horrible, evil, twisted liar" and Lee calling for Kirk's estate to sue King for defamation. The claim by King was widely disputed, as Kirk had actually been citing a Bible passage about stoning in the context of criticizing selective scripture use, not advocating violence himself. President Donald Trump honored Kirk as a "Great American Patriot" and ordered flags to be flown at half-mast, while vowing to seek justice for Kirk's murder. The attack on Kirk has intensified debates about political polarization, gun violence, and free speech in the U.S. The shooter remains unidentified, and the controversy surrounding King's comments highlights the ongoing cultural and political divisions.