Kane Brown Steps Back from Social Media After Charlie Kirk Tribute Backlash
Kane Brown says he’s taking a break from social media after facing a wave of criticism for his tribute to the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The country star shared on Wednesday (Sept. 10) that the backlash was so heated, it convinced him to step away from posting for the foreseeable future.
The reaction came after Brown acknowledged both Kirk’s death — the result of a fatal shooting at a Utah Valley University event — and a tragic high school mass shooting in Colorado that occurred the same day. Fans from across the political spectrum filled his comments with anger, some accusing him of ignoring other tragedies, while others attacked him for showing any empathy toward Democrats.
One commenter scolded him: “Why didn’t you post about the Democratic representatives being murdered?!” — a reference to the June killings of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband. From the opposite side, another urged: “Stand up, don’t be silent and bow down to those liberal POS that are joyful a father died!!! You have a huge platform, use it!”
The harshest remark came from a fan who said Brown, as a Black man, “offended [his] ancestors” by honoring Kirk. “He was a racist bigot who didn’t believe in gun regulations,” the commenter wrote.
Brown pushed back. “I’ve been called a n—– my whole life. I don’t want those people dead,” he replied, before telling his followers: “My last post for a while, be safe guys and love one another.”
What Kane Brown Said
Though the original tribute has since been deleted, Brown left up a clip from an Instagram Live, where he appeared visibly shaken. “I’ve been crying for two hours,” he admitted. His message was clear: he doesn’t want to talk politics, only love.
“At the end of the day dude, I just want everybody to love each other… left side, right side, Black, white, different language speaking, different country living, just love each other. If you see somebody down, just pick ’em up,” he said.
Brown ended the video with a plea for compassion: “I don’t do politics. That’s not for me. I just want y’all to love each other, bro. It’s really not that hard.”
About Charlie Kirk
Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent conservative voice, died after being shot in the neck during his Utah appearance. Despite immediate medical care, he passed from his injuries. His death has been widely mourned, with President Donald Trump among those sharing tributes. As of Thursday (Sept. 11), authorities continue a manhunt for the shooter, with several persons of interest questioned and released.