A year after Charlie Kirk was assassinated, people who lost their jobs for criticising the conservative activist say they have paid a heavy price — but many still refuse to apologise for what they wrote.

Gerald Bourguet wrote about professional basketball until he was fired

A dream life shattered overnight

Gerald Bourguet had bought a home with a pool, welcomed a baby boy and landed his dream job writing about professional basketball. Then, hours after Kirk was killed on 10 September 2025, he posted a series of fierce criticisms of the activist.

Bourguet called Kirk an “evil man” and attacked his political record. The posts went viral, he was fired, his address was exposed and threatening messages followed. His family fled the state with their four-month-old son before eventually returning to sell the house and start again elsewhere.

A nationwide punishment campaign followed

Bourguet was one of hundreds of people disciplined or dismissed over comments about Kirk. Reliable figures are difficult to establish, but a Reuters tally found more than 600 cases by November last year.

The pressure came from powerful voices. Right-wing commentator Laura Loomer warned critics their professional futures could be ruined, while Vice-President JD Vance urged people to “call their employer”.

Wildlife biologist Brittney Brown was devastated to lose her job

The sackings triggered a legal backlash

Some dismissals ended in major settlements. Florida biologist Brittney Brown received $485,000, while Tennessee professor Darren Michael was reinstated and secured a $500,000 settlement.

Anthropologist Tamar Shirinian’s case produced a $1.9 million settlement with the University of Tennessee. Washington Post opinion journalist Karen Attiah was also ordered to be rehired with back pay after being fired over posts about Kirk.

But private-sector workers often have far fewer protections because most US employees are hired “at will”.

The careers may be gone — but the views remain

Bourguet says his career in sports journalism may effectively be over. He has launched a podcast and is considering leaving the US, while accepting that his old life is unlikely to return.

Yet he remains defiant: “I don’t regret what I said.” What he does regret, he says, is the fallout for his career, his family and his young son.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj06jgl9qzlo

Here's another example, the first person to be jailed. Where do I post , to get a $800 K payout?

Retired police officer Larry Bushart jailed over Charlie...

Larry Bushart spent 37 days behind bars for a meme he shared on Facebook after the killing of the conservative commentator.

.....and nor should they.....he was a nasty, racist grifter and bully.

3 minutes ago, WIAA Alfie said:

.....and nor should they.....he was a nasty, racist grifter and bully.

Please provide an example of such behavior.

You can't.

I just hope they catch his killer.

9 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I just hope they catch his killer.

Another of your heroes, no doubt.

Just now, Yellowtail said:

Another of your heroes, no doubt.

You’re so very often sure of the absolute crap you come out with.

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

You’re so very often sure of the absolute crap you come out with.

And you are always so full of doubt, yes?

Russia collusion was real, and the Butler assignation attempt was staged, yes?

You crack me up.

2 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

And you are always so full of doubt, yes?

Russia collusion was real, and the Butler assignation attempt was staged, yes?

You crack me up.

What Butler assassination attempt?

29 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I just hope they catch his killer.

You’re so very often sure of the absolute crap you come out with.

1 hour ago, Yellowtail said:

Please provide an example of such behavior.

You can't.

Don't be so stupid..........there's mountains of evidence on the internet.....30 secs of searching throws up dozens of examples of his racism and grifting.

18 minutes ago, WIAA Alfie said:

Don't be so stupid..........there's mountains of evidence on the internet.....30 secs of searching throws up dozens of examples of his racism and grifting.

You made the claim, yet you are unable to support it, but you will continue saying it, because you are a leftist and have no integrity.

There are countless other know-nothing leftists regurgitating the same lies you regurgitate, and they can't support it either.

2 hours ago, WIAA Alfie said:

.....and nor should they.....he was a nasty, racist grifter and bully.

Where's your evidence for such ludicrous statements?

50 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

You made the claim, yet you are unable to support it, but you will continue saying it, because you are a leftist and have no integrity.

There are countless other know-nothing leftists regurgitating the same lies you regurgitate, and they can't support it either.

We know enough to live rent-free in your head, soooo roomy.

Here you go then......

"Kirk advocated for a range of conservative positions, including opposition to abortion, gun control, DEI programs, and LGBTQ rights. Over time, he aligned with the Christian right and advocated for Christian nationalism. His more controversial positions included criticism of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Martin Luther King Jr., as well as promotion of COVID-19 misinformation, false allegations of electoral fraud in 2020, and the white genocide conspiracy theory."

Edited Sunday at 12:34 PM2 days by Lacessit

4 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

We know enough to live rent-free in your head, soooo roomy.

Speaking of other know-nothing leftists regurgitating lies they are unable to support with facts...

10 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

Speaking of other know-nothing leftists regurgitating lies they are unable to support with facts...

How typical, editing my post to leave out the facts which rebutted you.

Some still want to speak out.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/13/charlie-kirk-statue-vandalized-tpusa-arizona#img-1

15 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

Please provide an example of such behavior.

You can't.

Easy.

He stated in a widely circulated video that if he was on an airplane and the pilot was black he would be fearful that the pilot was not competent.

Can you explain that away?

Trumplanders have difficulty understanding actual moral values.

12 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

Speaking of other know-nothing leftists regurgitating lies they are unable to support with facts...

Ahah! The ultimate fallback position: he is a lefty (doesn't slavishly follow my opinion) and he is regurgitating lies ( has made a point which may disprove, certainly calls into question, something I have said)!

Discussion or debate is rather pointless!

Edited yesterday at 12:47 AM1 day by JAG

22 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

Easy.

He stated in a widely circulated video that if he was on an airplane and the pilot was black he would be fearful that the pilot was not competent.

Can you explain that away?

What is there to explain ?

48 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

Easy.

He stated in a widely circulated video that if he was on an airplane and the pilot was black he would be fearful that the pilot was not competent.

Can you explain that away?

Not exactly. You have relied on negative comments people have made on social media to twist his comments on bias out of context. Perhaps his point was too complex for you to comprehend. Charlie Kirk stated;

Kirk specifically stated in the clip, "That's not who I am, that's not what I believe." He later explained that extreme DEI does is it makes us worse versions of ourselves. That's the whole point of what I was saying is that I now look at everything through a hyper-racialized diversity-quota lens because of their massive insistence to try to hit these ridiculous racial hiring quotas. Of course I believe anybody of any skin color can become a qualified pilot. 

kirk's point was that the environment of DEI and forced hirings was creating a climate of second guessing qualifications. He was not discriminating against black people.

The full context of the quote was as follows : 

KOLVET: We've all been in the back of a plane when the turbulence hits or when you're flying through a storm and you're like, "I'm so glad I saw the guy with the right stuff and the square jaw get into the cockpit before we took off. And I feel better now, thinking about that." 

KIRK: You wanna go thought crime? I'm sorry. If I see a Black pilot, I'm gonna be like, "Boy, I hope he's qualified."

KOLVET: But you wouldn't have done that before!

KIRK: That's not an immediate … that's not who I am. That's not what I believe. 

NEFF: It is the reality the left has created. 

KIRK: I want to be as blunt as possible because now I'm connecting two dots. Wait a second, this CEO just said that he's forcing that a white qualified guy is not gonna get the job. So I see this guy, he might be a nice person and I say, "Boy, I hope he's not a Harvard-style affirmative-action student that … landed half of his flight-simulator trials." 

KOLVET: Such a good point. That's so fair. 

KIRK: It also … creates unhealthy thinking patterns. I don't wanna think that way. And no one should, right? … And by the way, then you couple it with the FAA, air-traffic control, they got a bunch of morons and affirmative-action people. 

55 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

Easy.

He stated in a widely circulated video that if he was on an airplane and the pilot was black he would be fearful that the pilot was not competent.

Can you explain that away?

Can't blame him. When a gov't or program demands hiring with a DEI mandate instead of on merit, that thought may run through many peoples minds! Including yours.

2 hours ago, Lacessit said:

How typical, editing my post to leave out the facts which rebutted you.

How typical of you to regurgitate other know-nothing leftists telling the same lies you're telling and pretend it's evidence.

You edited your post. You really have no integrity, do you?

1 hour ago, cdemundo said:

Easy.

He stated in a widely circulated video that if he was on an airplane and the pilot was black he would be fearful that the pilot was not competent.

Can you explain that away?

He stated that because United Airlines stated that 50% of new pilots would be black or women, (DEI hires) that he would be concerned that they might not be qualified.

Why don't you actually watch some of his videos, rather than just reading and regurgitating what other know-nothing leftists claim he says.

23 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

He stated that because United Airlines stated that 50% of new pilots would be black or women, (DEI hires) that he would be concerned that they might not be qualified.

Why don't you actually watch some of his videos, rather than just reading and regurgitating what other know-nothing leftists claim he says.

"other know-nothing leftists"

Interesting you use that phrase.

The one that comes to mind when I read your posts is

"The unshakeable certainty of the half-educated".

11 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

"other know-nothing leftists"

Interesting you use that phrase.

The one that comes to mind when I read your posts is

"The unshakeable certainty of the half-educated".

And when I read your quote, the phrase that comes to mind is, "another know-nothing lefitst"

I have watched tens of hours of Charlie Kirk debates and whatnot, you've likely watched none.

You just regurgitate as fact what other know-nothing leftists claim about Charlie Kirk.

Per you, that I actually listen to what one says before commenting on what they say means I am half-educated.

If I, like you, just regurgitate what other people say, will my education be complete?

2 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

He stated that because United Airlines stated that 50% of new pilots would be black or women, (DEI hires) that he would be concerned that they might not be qualified.

Why don't you actually watch some of his videos, rather than just reading and regurgitating what other know-nothing leftists claim he says.

How would they not be qualified?

1 hour ago, Yellowtail said:

And when I read your quote, the phrase that comes to mind is, "another know-nothing lefitst"

I have watched tens of hours of Charlie Kirk debates and whatnot, you've likely watched none.

You just regurgitate as fact what other know-nothing leftists claim about Charlie Kirk.

Per you, that I actually listen to what one says before commenting on what they say means I am half-educated.

If I, like you, just regurgitate what other people say, will my education be complete?

Charlie Kirk not saying anything you personally regard as racist is not evidence that Charlie Kirk is not a racist who engaged in racism.

Kirk’s ‘black pilot’ remarks are a case in hand.

I very much doubt that had Kirk not been a racist you would have spent tens of hours listening to him.

13 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Charlie Kirk not saying anything you personally regard as racist is not evidence that Charlie Kirk is not a racist who engaged in racism.

Kirk’s ‘black pilot’ remarks are a case in hand.

I very much doubt that had Kirk not been a racist you would have spent tens of hours listening to him.

Just as Charlie Kirk saying anything that you personally regard as racist is not evidence that Charlie Kirk is a racist who engaged in racism.

Kirk’s ‘black pilot’ remarks are a case in hand.

You think hiring a pilot because they are black is not racist, correct? Do you also think hiring pilot because they are white is not racist?