A year after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September 2025, dozens of Americans who posted critical comments about him online have lost their jobs, with some now reflecting on the lasting impact despite standing by their words. Basketball writer Gerald Bourguet was fired after calling Kirk an "evil man" hours after his death and criticising his supporters; the backlash saw his address exposed and his family forced to flee their home over safety fears. The case illustrates the fierce polarisation unleashed by Kirk's killing, with prominent conservative figures publicly urging people to report critics to their employers.

Bourguet, 35, has since relocated permanently and says he does not regret his comments, though he acknowledges his life has been upended. He was one of hundreds fired or disciplined for remarks about Kirk following his fatal shooting at Utah Valley University on 10 September; while some have since been reinstated or compensated, others have had to rebuild from nothing. Figures including commentator Laura Loomer and Vice-President JD Vance called for critics to face professional consequences, prompting accusations from the left of hypocrisy given past conservative complaints about "cancel culture".