Panthers Fire PR Staffer Over Mocking Post on Kirk Shooting

Lead The Carolina Panthers dismissed public relations coordinator Charlie Rock on Friday after he posted an insensitive message about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination in Utah on Wednesday.

Nut Graf The team acted swiftly amid widespread outrage, emphasizing that Rock’s personal views do not reflect the organization and condemning any endorsement of violence.

Panthers Terminate Staffer Charlie Rock, who joined the Panthers as a PR intern in 2024 and was later promoted to football communications coordinator, shared an Instagram story questioning why people were mourning Kirk’s death and overlaid the Wu-Tang Clan track “Protect Ya Neck”.

Team Response

• The Panthers issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “The views expressed by our employees are their own and do not represent those of the Carolina Panthers. We do not condone violence of any kind. We are taking this matter very seriously and have accordingly addressed it with the individual.”
• Sources confirmed Rock was terminated on Thursday evening, though the team did not name him directly in their release.

Context of Incident Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed during a campus event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 10. His death prompted bipartisan condemnation and industry-wide scrutiny of remarks by public figures and employees.

Broader Repercussions The firing follows similar swift actions by major outlets; MSNBC parted ways with analyst Matthew Dowd for comments deemed insensitive in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. This episode underscores the heightened sensitivity to public discourse surrounding politically charged violence.

Investigation Underway Law enforcement continues to hunt for the suspect, believed to be of college age, based on campus surveillance footage released by the FBI and Utah Department of Public Safety. No arrests have been announced.