Transgender Team USA Cyclist Faces Backlash Over Posts Celebrating Charlie Kirk Assassination

Chelsea Wolfe, a transgender BMX cyclist and 2021 Tokyo Olympics alternate for Team USA, sparked widespread backlash after posting a series of social media messages celebrating the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kirk, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, was fatally shot while hosting a Q&A at Utah Valley University, and a suspect is now in custody. Wolfe's posts included a thumbs-up selfie captioned with "Being a Nazi is completely optional btw. He didn't have to do all that, but he did and now he's dead," and other content likening Kirk to a Nazi and dismissing condolences for his family. The controversy intensified due to Wolfe's prior statements, including a 2020 post expressing a desire to burn the American flag at the Olympics. While many condemned Kirk's assassination, some on the political left openly cheered it, further polarizing the response. Wolfe's actions have drawn sharp criticism from various quarters, including women's sports activists and commentators who mourned Kirk's death and condemned the celebratory social media posts.