Jezebel's article about Etsy witches hexing Charlie Kirk two days prior to his death goes viral

Right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot on September 10 during a speaking event at Utah Valley University.

The incident, caught on camera, showed panic among attendees as security scrambled to respond. Police later confirmed no suspect was in custody, with the gunfire believed to have come from an elevated campus building.

The tragedy took an unusual turn online when an article published two days earlier by feminist outlet Jezebel resurfaced. The piece, titled We Paid Some Etsy Witches to Curse Charlie Kirk, described commissioning spells from online sellers. While written with a satirical tone, the timing has sparked intense scrutiny.

The author stated they hoped Kirk would face daily inconveniences, such as microphone failures or minor mishaps, but insisted they were not invoking harm.

By  August 24, weeks before the shooting, the author expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the spells, remarking, “This is witchcraft, not Amazon. The forces operate on their own schedule.” Jezebel later clarified its position, condemning Kirk’s killing and stressing that it does not endorse or excuse political violence.

Jezebel later added an Editor’s Note after Charlie Kirk’s death, condemning the shooting “in the strongest possible terms” and rejecting political violence.

The September 8 article, originally credited to a named author, was also updated with a generic “By Jezebel” byline to distance the publication from misinterpretation.

The investigation remains ongoing, with Utah Valley University closing its campus as law enforcement searches for a suspect.