Sylvester Stallone Snaps at Celebrities Mocking Charlie Kirk After Assassination: They Get Exposed

In the shadow of a tragedy that has gripped the nation, the assassination of conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, has ignited a firestorm unlike any other. What began as a routine speaking engagement at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, turned into a nightmare when a single gunshot pierced the air, striking Kirk in the neck as he addressed a crowd of about 3,000 students. The 31-year-old co-founder of Turning Point USA, known for his unyielding defense of traditional values and his role in mobilizing young conservatives, collapsed amid chaos, leaving behind a wife and two young children. The suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was swiftly apprehended, his motives tied to a radicalized shift toward left-leaning ideologies, according to prosecutors. Yet, as the manhunt unfolded and vigils bloomed across the country, a darker undercurrent emerged from Hollywood’s glittering halls—one that has now drawn the ire of Sylvester Stallone and a cadre of outspoken stars.

The immediate aftermath saw an outpouring of grief from political allies, with President Donald Trump lamenting on Truth Social that Kirk possessed “the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America” and vowing to award him a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom. Vigils lit up campuses and town squares, from Phoenix to Washington, D.C., where mourners clutched American flags and candles, whispering prayers for a man who had become a symbol of unapologetic patriotism. But amid this solemnity, whispers of mockery slithered through social media feeds, turning the tragedy into fodder for partisan jabs. One voice rose above the din: Stephen King, the horror maestro whose tales of terror have chilled generations, posted a now-deleted X message claiming Kirk “advocated stoning gays to death. Just sayin.’” The remark, a distorted reference to Kirk’s biblical critiques of progressive figures like children’s entertainer Ms. Rachel, exploded into controversy, drawing swift condemnation from figures like Senator Ted Cruz, who branded King a “horrible, evil, twisted liar.”

King’s words were no isolated slip. Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel faced indefinite suspension from ABC after suggesting on air that Kirk’s MAGA allies were exploiting the killing for political gain, a monologue that Nexstar Media Group decried as “offensive and insensitive” amid a national reckoning with political violence. Other celebrities, from unnamed TV writers to online influencers, piled on with thinly veiled sneers, framing Kirk’s death not as a loss but as karmic retribution for his outspoken stances on faith, family, and freedom. Bookstores in the UK, like Belfast Books, yanked King’s titles from shelves in protest, while MSNBC analyst Matthew Dowd lost his job for similar barbs. These reactions, born in the heat of the moment, exposed a chasm in Hollywood—one where empathy clashes with ideology, and a young father’s life becomes collateral in the culture wars.

Enter Sylvester Stallone, the 79-year-old icon whose Rocky Balboa embodied blue-collar grit and unyielding resolve. Long revered as a patriot who infused his films with themes of redemption and national pride, Stallone didn’t mince words in a fiery video statement that has since amassed millions of views. “I’ve watched this industry twist itself into knots over politics for too long,” he said, his voice gravelly with the weight of decades in the spotlight. “Charlie Kirk was a kid fighting for what he believed in, just like I did when I wrote Rocky on a scrap of paper because no one would give me a shot. Free speech is sacred—it’s the blood of this country—but it doesn’t give you a free pass to dance on a grave. These so-called stars mocking a man’s death, using it to push their agendas? It’s disgusting. It’s not entertainment; it’s division, plain and simple.” Stallone’s rebuke carried the authenticity of a man who has navigated Hollywood’s treacherous waters, from Vietnam-era underdog tales to his recent turn in Tulsa King, where he plays a mobster grappling with loyalty and loss. His words landed like a knockout punch, reminding viewers that true artistry demands heart, not hashtags.

Stallone wasn’t alone in his stand. Mel Gibson, the Braveheart director whose own battles with controversy have forged a resilient worldview, took to X with a post that seethed with righteous fury. “The brutal murder of Charlie Kirk is nothing short of evil—a cowardly attack on America’s very soul,” Gibson wrote. “Faith, family, freedom, the right to speak truth trampled by violence. My blood boils. Justice must be relentless and unforgiving.” At 69, Gibson’s declaration echoed his on-screen portrayals of defiant heroes, underscoring a shared disdain for the opportunism staining the tragedy. James Woods, the veteran actor behind roles in Hercules and Casino, added his voice with a poignant reflection: “I enjoyed dinners with Charlie, but worried for his safety.” Woods, a vocal conservative who has long clashed with industry elites, captured the personal sting of the loss, hinting at the quiet fears that shadowed Kirk’s rising star.

This collective pushback from Stallone, Gibson, and Woods has peeled back the curtain on Hollywood’s fractures, revealing not just ideological rifts but a deeper unease about where entertainment ends and activism begins. Stallone urged his peers to “get back to creating stories that unite us, not tear us apart,” a plea that resonates as more actors whisper of joining the chorus—though many remain silent, wary of alienating fans or jeopardizing deals. The silence speaks volumes, a tacit admission that in an era of cancel culture, taking a stand can cost dearly. Yet, as the Senate designates October 14—Kirk’s would-be 32nd birthday—as a National Day of Remembrance, the exposure feels inevitable. King’s apology, though laced with lingering critique, acknowledged the cherry-picking of scriptures that fueled his error, a rare concession in the echo chamber.

What lingers, then, is a tantalizing question of transformation: Could this moment, raw and unfiltered, coax Hollywood toward introspection? Kirk’s death, the latest in a grim litany of political assassinations—from the 2024 attempts on Trump to the 2025 slayings of Minnesota legislators—serves as a stark mirror to a divided America. It challenges the industry to reclaim its role as storyteller, not score-settler, fostering bridges over battle lines. As Stallone put it in his unscripted rant, “We’ve got enough real villains out there—let’s not become them.” In the days ahead, with Robinson’s trial looming and memorials multiplying, the entertainment world watches, wondering if the snap of one legend’s temper might just spark a reckoning. For now, Kirk’s legacy endures not in the mockery, but in the unbowed voices rising to honor it—a testament to the enduring fight for a nation that values every life, no matter the side.