Kirk’s Murder Sparks Controversy Over Insensitive Jokes and Political Attacks
Jennifer Welch and Minocqua Brewing face backlash for using Charlie Kirk’s murder for political gain.
3 min read
Charlie Kirk’s murder has sparked a heated debate over the insensitivity of political figures and corporations using his death for their own agenda. A man was murdered while speaking in public, and over a year later, the incident continues to be exploited for political and commercial gain.
Kirk was assassinated on Sept. 10, 2025, during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. His death, which occurred under violent circumstances, has been used by some to fuel their political narratives. Jennifer Welch, a prominent conservative commentator, and her co-host Angie Sullivan made light of Kirk’s murder on the November 5 episode of I’ve Had It. Their comments, which included laughing at a social media post suggesting the murder of Kirk again, drew widespread condemnation.
UPDATE: 30 companies have now confirmed they will not advertise on the “I’ve had it” podcast after hosts Jennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan laughed at Charlie’s m*rder: Cash App Chewy Boll & Branch Zenni Optical Momentous Honeylove Casper HexClad Ethos Branch Basics Ladder Nutrafol Jones Road Beauty ZipRecruiter PAKA Ember BetterHelp Primal Queen Monarch Money iRestore HomeServe Ridge Wallet Lola Blankets NOBL Travel Dupe One Skin IQbar Quince Cozy Earth ASPCA
Welch and Sullivan’s remarks were not only insensitive but also raised serious ethical concerns. Laughing about the idea of repeating an assassination treats the victim’s humanity as something political enemies can revoke. The imagined second killing supplies the amusement precisely because the first one really happened. While the hosts later apologized, calling their joke “insensitive,” the apology did little to address the deeper moral failure.
Jennifer Welch says her advertisers were "harassed" into dropping the show. "Sadly, some of the advertisers have caved. But we still have other advertisers, and we're still standing." Little companies are apparently stepping in to try to save them. They read a message from a brewery in Wisconsin that called Charlie Kirk "an awful human being" and wanted to help sponsor the show. Welch called that "so sweet," then did a shout out for the company for free. At last count, around 30 sponsors have dropped the podcast. It's not because they were harassed. It's because these women are toxic. But hey if you're a little company, just drop these hateful hags a message bashing Charlie. Maybe that'll get you a free ad read.
Minocqua Brewing, a Wisconsin-based company owned by Kirk Bangstad, further fueled the controversy by offering to partner with Welch’s podcast after it lost sponsors. The company’s post called Kirk an “awful human being” and disparaged people defending him, framing their support as a way to justify the laughter over his assassination. This move was seen as an attempt to align with Welch’s political stance while distancing themselves from the moral implications of their actions.
Political death talk has already been a part of Minocqua Brewing’s public identity, with past incidents such as offering free beer when President Donald Trump died. This latest offer continues a pattern of behavior that has drawn criticism for normalizing the discussion of political violence.
Welch’s actions and the support from Minocqua Brewing raise important questions about the responsibility of public figures and corporations in the wake of a murder. The apology should have led to reflection, but instead, Welch embraced an offer that justified the laughter through another attack on Kirk. The brewery’s involvement in this matter further highlights the lack of moral accountability in their actions.
Public disagreement is a legitimate form of discourse, but murder ends the victim’s opportunity to respond. Mocking a murdered individual after the fact allows detractors to perform for one another without the inconvenience of hearing the victim’s perspective. The family of Charlie Kirk must live with his absence, while Welch and Minocqua Brewing can choose what they say next. They could acknowledge the cruelty plainly, withdraw the excuses, and stop making a dead man’s humanity contingent on political agreement.
Source: PJ Media
