A growing number of conservatives are voicing alarm over an aggressive campaign to track down and expose liberals who posted vile comments about slain activist Charlie Kirk.
Their insensitive and cruel comments have raised an internal debate about whether the retaliation effort is morally justified or dangerously hypocritical.
Among the loudest critics is conservative commentator Raquel Debono, who took to Instagram to question whether the right’s efforts to get political opponents fired from their jobs are ‘Christian’ or even consistent with conservative values.
Debono argued that it was not – and warned that conservatives indulging in this kind of ‘cancel culture‘ were in fact betraying their own principles.
‘I thought Republicans don’t like cancel culture? So why are you indulging in this cancel culture vibe?’ she said in a video message to her followers. ‘People on the right need to be stronger. We need to be better.’
The backlash comes as some right-leaning influencers, including X user @lisakippy, identified by the Daily Mail, have been meticulously compiling names, employers, and screenshots of progressives who posted celebratory or mocking comments about Kirk’s assassination.
‘I’ve only just begun creating a spreadsheet of people who’ve said vile things about Charlie Kirk’s assassination. So far, teachers and professors are by far the most represented,’ she wrote.
Conservative commentator Raquel Debono took to Instagram to question whether the right’s efforts to get political opponents fired from their jobs are ‘Christian’ or consistent with conservative values
Conservative speaker Olivia Krolczyk, right, claims to have contacted more than 470 employers in the last few days to complain about postings disrespecting Charlie Kirk, pictured
‘The fact that these teachers feel free to say such vile things publicly shows an alarming degree of entitlement. It’s really worrisome’, she added.
Kirk, the co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University last week, in what authorities have labeled a targeted political killing.
Debono acknowledged the anger many conservatives feel after witnessing cruel or celebratory remarks about Kirk’s death. But she pushed back strongly against those channeling that outrage into doxxing campaigns or mass-emailing employers.
‘Yeah, their opinions are absolutely disgusting. That’s what I believe,’ she said. ‘But when Republicans act like liberals, what purpose are we serving? Are we furthering the best interests of the Republican Party? Or are we just doing the same things they do to us?’
She added that targeting 400 people for firing was not just petty – but pathetic.
‘If you have enough time in your day to sit around calling 400 different employers to get some liberals fired, I really hope you get the help you need,’ Debono said. ‘Karen, what are you doing? Maybe you should get a job – literally get a job – because clearly you have way too much time on your hands.
‘There’s this one girl on X every single day attacking liberals and getting them fired for saying horrible things about Charlie Kirk,’ Debono said. ‘At first it was funny. Now she’s gotten over 400 people fired. That’s not productive.
Olivia Krolczyk who claims to have contacted more than 470 employers over the last few days
Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, died Wednesday after he was shot at an event at Utah Valley University
‘Are we going to try to get a loser fired from their loser job? It’s not Christian. It’s not conservative. It’s not helpful.’
Debono was referring to conservative speaker Olivia Krolczyk who claims to have contacted more than 470 employers over the last few days.
‘I feel like a Karen, with the amount of calls Ive made to employers. Anyways, back at it again today,’ Krolczyk posted.
‘I’ve officially contacted 471 employers. Still more to do. My fingers hurt. My eyes hurt. I’ve never had screen time this high. But I’m Alice to complain about it. It’s all worth it. All for Charlie,’ she added.
The furor over retaliatory firings escalated after a Facebook post from Jasmine Frye, a staffer for Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger, went viral.
In her post, Frye wrote, ‘F around and find out. His entire brand was hate and violence; you attract what you preach.
‘His last words were gang violence trying to pen stuff on black ppl. Save your breath for the kiddos killed in CO yesterday,’ she added.
That prompted Republican Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, who is running for governor herself, to demand Spanberger fire Frye immediately.
‘Charlie was a husband and father,’ Sears wrote on X. ‘Abigail must condemn this immediately and fire anyone who celebrates political violence. Decency isn’t partisan.’
The furor over retaliatory firings escalated after a Facebook post from Jasmine Frye, a staffer for Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger, went viral
The controversy has exposed a raw and growing divide within the conservative movement between those who believe the left should be fought using any available tactic, and those who believe mimicry of progressive ‘cancel culture’ undermines the moral authority of the right.
Debono has issued a call for reflection rather than vengeance.
‘When people are attacking other people’s freedom of speech, that’s when we have a problem,’ she said.
‘There are two ways to do this. One is doing your due diligence, making sure these people are truly evil and then attacking them. If that makes you feel good, go for it. It’s not my thing.’
‘Are we never going to stoop to their level? Or are we going to stoop again and again until we don’t stand for anything at all?’
Charlie Kirk, 31, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. He is pictured alongside his wife, Erika
Charlie Kirk, 31, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
His death sparked an outpouring of grief and tributes from conservative circles and has reignited national debate over political rhetoric, free speech, and violence.
Federal agents have identified and arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson as the alleged shooter.
He remains in custody and is charged with aggravated murder, among other crimes.
His motives are still under investigation, but law enforcement sources have said he left behind bullet casings etched with cryptic references to fascism, video games, and political ideology.
