Panthers fire employee for insensitive post about Charlie Kirk

Field Level Media|published: Thu 11th September, 13:18 2025

NFL: Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints

Sep 8, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Detailed view of the Carolina Panthers helmet against the New Orleans Saints during the pregame at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

The Carolina Panthers fired an employee in their communications department following an insensitive social media post about the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the Charlotte Observer reported Thursday.

Football communications coordinator Charlie Rock made the post on Instagram a few hours after Kirk, 31, was shot and killed during an appearance at Utah Valley University.

"Why are yall sad? Your man said it was worth it ..." read the post, which included a photo of Kirk and a reference to the song "Protect Ya Neck" by the Wu-Tang Clan, per the report.

The Panthers released a statement Thursday on X.

"The views expressed by our employees are their own and do not represent those of the Carolina Panthers. We do not condone violence of any kind. We are taking this matter very seriously and have accordingly addressed it with the individual."

The newspaper's efforts to reach Rock were not immediately successful.

--Field Level Media

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