They lost their jobs after posting about Charlie Kirk, but some have no regrets

Gerald Bourguet, a former PHNX Sports employee, felt he was living his dream life in September 2025 until he posted critical comments about Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist. Kirk had recently passed away after being fatally shot on the campus of Utah Valley University. Bourguet described Kirk as an "evil man" and criticized his supporters for not being vocal about school shootings.

Days after Kirk's death, Bourguet's posts quickly went viral, leading to his job loss, exposure of his address, and receiving threatening text messages. The family fled the state with their newborn son, returning months later to sell their home and relocate permanently. Bourguet now regrets the consequences of his actions and acknowledges that his life will never be the same.

He laments that at 35 years old, he must start over in many aspects of his life. Bourguet's case is one of hundreds of individuals who faced disciplinary action or job loss for criticizing Kirk in the aftermath of his death. While some have been reinstated or received compensation, others have had to rebuild their lives from scratch.

Criticism of Kirk varied among political groups, with opponents finding his views deeply offensive and supporters praising his ability to appeal to young people. The White House and Vice-President JD Vance encouraged the condemnation of those who celebrated Kirk's death, labeling it as political violence and assassination culture.

Some politicians, such as Republican Jordan Pace, defended these actions, accusing conservative leaders of hypocrisy for previously condemning "cancel culture" while participating in it themselves.