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According to a report by the Anti-Defamation League’s Center on Extremism, a wave of “false narratives” began circulating shortly after Kirk was fatally shot
News18
The assassination of Charlie Kirk has given rise to a surge of antisemitic and anti-Israel conspiracy theories online, with social media users spreading unfounded claims within hours of the shooting.
According to a report by the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) Center on Extremism, a wave of “false narratives” began circulating shortly after Kirk, 31, was fatally shot while speaking with students at Utah Valley University on September 10.
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“Within hours, and before a suspect had been identified, antisemites and promoters of false narratives seized the moment to attribute the incident to Israel or to blame Jews generally,” the ADL wrote in its report. “A common example of how bad actors take advantage of breaking news events and tragedies to advance their own hateful agendas.”
The ADL said it had tracked more than 10,000 posts on X, containing the phrase “Israel killed Charlie Kirk” in the immediate aftermath of the murder.
One widely shared post read, “Yesterday was a turning point for Israel-U.S. relations. Less than 24 hours and the internet already figured out who the most likely culprit was. He was their friend. He basically dedicated his life to them. And they murdered him in front of his family. Israel just shot themselves.”
Yesterday was a turning point for Israel US relations.Les than 24 hours and the internet already figured out who the most likely culprit was.
He was their friend. He basically dedicated his life to them. And they murdered him in front of his family.
Israel just shot…
— Ian Carroll (@IanCarrollShow) September 11, 2025
Another viral post, cited in the ADL report, claimed Kirk had believed Israel would “kill him if he turns against them”. The post, viewed more than 10 million times, offered no evidence.
Some users pointed to Kirk’s recent decision to host comedian Dave Smith, known for his criticism of Israel, as supposed motivation for the killing.
In another example cited by the ADL, a user claimed, “He started mildly criticising Israel and now he’s dead. Just think about that.” The post received more than 200,000 likes.
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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
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September 14, 2025, 16:56 IST
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