TikTok’s practice of using Charlie Kirk to kill sound is sparking a backlash
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TikTok’s trend of using audio references to Charlie Kirk’s assassination in clothing line videos is drawing backlash from Turning Point USA and political analysts across the board.
Turning Point USA released a statement Saturday condemning the practice and asking that the audio be removed from the platform.
“Turning Point USA condemns in the strongest possible terms the practice of TikTok audio that uses or alludes to the murder of our founder, Charlie Kirk, for entertainment purposes,” Turning Point USA shared in a statement.
The videos, which have gone viral on social media in recent days, show users adding audio to clothing clips, a format widely used on TikTok.
TikTok users are making clothes change videos using the audio reference Charlie Kirk, sparking a backlash online. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)
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Turning Point USA said the practice trivializes violence and disrespects the reality of political attacks.
“Charlie Kirk was the victim of a real act of political violence. To turn that into viral content is sad and dehumanizing,” Turning Point USA said in a statement.
The organization added that the trend reflects a cultural problem surrounding online content.
Turning Point USA released a statement criticizing TikTok’s practice using audio reference Charlie Kirk. (Josh Edelson/AFP)
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“There is nothing harmless, funny, or acceptable about it. It reflects a culture that trivializes violence and reduces real human loss to the spotlight,” reads a statement from Turning Point USA. Turning Point USA also called for action against TikTok over the audio. “This has no place on TikTok. Anywhere. This noise needs to be removed,” said Turning Point USA.
Online commentators also reacted to the trend as it spread across social media.
Riley Gaines, a conservative activist and former NCAA swimmer, also weighed in on the trend in a post on X.
“They say they’re being nice when they’re celebrating and laughing at the death of innocent people. It’s a joke to them,” Gaines said. “These people have no dignity and humanity. Ghosts without a soul.”
Charlie Kirk tosses a “Make America Great Again” hat to the crowd at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking on the “American Comeback Tour” when he was shot in the neck and killed. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)
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“Women posted a video using Charlie Kirk’s murder sounds for a costume change… this is bad. The ‘sympathetic’ side btw,” said Brian Atlas in a post on X.
More criticism spread on social media as the videos gained attention.
“The sound of Charlie Kirk being shot is now the trending sound of change on TikTok for clothing changes. Let that sink in,” said Pastor Jordan Wells in a post on X. “A man’s last moments—gunshots and screaming—have become a popular dance video filler. Sick people. Our culture is completely broken.”
Some political commentators on the left also mentioned this trend.
Taylor Lorenz, a progressive journalist, noted this trend in a post on X.
“The sound of Charlie Kirk being shot is now the TikTok sound of a costume change,” Lorenz said.
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Charlie Kirk founded Turning Point USA, a nonprofit organization that advocates for revolutionary politics, and hosts one of Salem’s top-rated podcasts and nationally syndicated radio show, “The Charlie Kirk Show.” (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, TikTok said the audio and related content violated its policies and that enforcement action was taken.
“This violates our policies, the audio violates them, as well as the video,” a TikTok spokesperson said. “We have taken steps to remove them, and any kind of reposting or any other content using that audio.”
TikTok said the content falls under its rules against violent content.
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“We don’t condone anything that glorifies violence or anything like that, so we’re going to tone down who we are,” a TikTok spokesperson said.
“There’s value in being aware of the different policies that other platforms have to allow this content to continue to, you know, spread and gain visibility.”
Turning Point USA declined to provide further comment to Fox News Digital.
