(NewsNation) — HGTV’s Erin Napier finds herself amidst controversy following her remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was killed recently.
Following the fatal shooting of Kirk at a campus event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, Napier took to her Instagram stories to express her thoughts, saying, “only the demonized celebrate death,” as reported by the Daily Mail.
The interior designer, who hosts “Home Town” alongside her husband, Ben Napier, addressed the backlash she received in a follow-up post.
Napier shared her dismay over some direct messages she received, stating, “I am revolted by some of the comments in my DMs. Unfollow me, immediately, if you could be one of those comments. Christ, have mercy on us all.”
The HGTV star posted some of the responses she has received from people upset over her post mourning Kirk.
One of the messages she paraphrased read, “Really Erin? You are homeschooling your precious children in LAUREL, MS (of all places) to prevent something like this from happening to them,” pointing out that Kirk “died for what he believed in. God have mercy on his soul because I do not.”
Another follower threatened to unfollow her on social media, stop watching her show and discard her products, the Daily Mail reports.
“Because I will not celebrate murder,” Napier wrote in response to the message.
Controversy over Charlie Kirk’s death
Kirk’s passing has elicited a mix of support and criticism due to his political views, especially regarding the Second Amendment, the Civil Rights Act, “replacement theory,” and issues like rape and abortion. Some individuals who celebrated his death have experienced professional fallout.
In light of Kirk’s death, businesses such as Delta Airlines and Office Depot have updated their social media policies, while various local and state agencies have terminated employees over their social media posts.
Kirk’s accused killer, Tyler Robinson, was arrested after a 33-hour manhunt thanks to a tip from his family and messages discovered on Discord, according to police.
