America is still reeling from the murder of Charlie Kirk, and instead of solemnity, parts of our media ecosystem have pivoted to spectacle. Conservative stalwarts and ordinary patriots expected honest inquiry and respect for a grieving widow, yet what we’ve seen from some corners is a feeding frenzy of unsubstantiated theories that do nothing to honor Kirk’s legacy.
Candace Owens has publicly floated a series of wild suggestions about who might have been behind Kirk’s death, including insinuations about foreign governments and internal betrayal within Turning Point USA, claims that she has presented without clear evidence. This has fractured trust inside the movement and handed the left a ready-made narrative about conspiratorial antisemitism and opportunism on the right.
Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, publicly begged for the conspiracies to stop and later met privately with Owens in what both called a productive conversation — a sign that decent people on our side want to de-escalate and seek the truth, not theatre. The request from Kirk’s family should have been the end of this chapter, not the prelude to more headlines and accusations.
On his show Dave Rubin brought Gad Saad and Viva Frei into a roundtable to react to a DM clip and to ask the blunt question conservatives must now face: is this about truth, or something crasser? Rubin and his guests speculated on motives — and the clip highlights a worrying trend where grief is turned into content and controversy is monetized.
Let’s call it what it is: when public figures repeatedly push extraordinary claims with no proof, there’s usually a clear profit or attention motive, and multiple outlets have documented how this controversy has boosted downloads and attention for those making the loudest accusations. Piers Morgan and other commentators have bluntly noted the financial windfall and opportunism that follows sensationalism, and conservatives should not pretend this has no cost.
This isn’t about shutting down questions or policing thought — conservatives have always prized skepticism and vigorous debate — it’s about responsibility. We lose when we hand the moral high ground to our political enemies by indulging in baseless speculation that looks more like a reality-TV pivot than a pursuit of justice. The movement that Charlie helped build deserves better than petty feuds and grifts dressed up as inquiry.
Hardworking Americans want leaders who build, not burn; who seek facts, not clicks. If we care about winning the culture and safeguarding conservative institutions, we need to demand evidence, insist on decency toward the grieving, and call out anyone who trades in chaos for cash or clout. The moment calls for seriousness, not showmanship — and for conservatives, the future of the movement depends on remembering that.
