Glen Powell sparks online debate with hint of Charlie Kirk reference in cancel-culture interview
Actor’s comments during a podcast prompt discussion over whether he was alluding to Kirk’s death, while promoting his new show Chad Powers.
Glen Powell has sparked online chatter after appearing to allude to the assassination of Charlie Kirk in a discussion about cancel culture on the Therapuss with Jake Shane podcast.
Powell recounts a recent interaction at a party with a celebrity who had recently faced a media storm over past behavior. He described a moment when a photographer asked to take a photo of the two of them, and he observed that the other person had been canceled and had made choices Powell did not agree with. It was at the conclusion of that anecdote that Powell delivered a line that sent listeners into a buzz: “some of these other people that get canceled… they should lie where they're shot.”
Powell then shifted to discuss the character he plays in his upcoming sports comedy show, Chad Powers, noting that the role is a corrective lens on a celebrity who has made mistakes but is not defined by them. He described Russ Holliday, Powell’s character, as someone who errs in a way that invites redemption and reflection in today’s social-media-driven environment. Chad Powers is slated to premiere on September 30, and Powell used the platform to contrast his on-screen portrayal with the real-world drama surrounding cancel culture.
Social media users on Reddit immediately weighed in, with fans split over whether Powell’s remark was a direct reference to Kirk or a misstep in wording. Some clashed over the interpretation, while others suggested the line may have been a broader metaphor about accountability and public backlash. One user wrote that Powell seemed to be “fixing” a perceived image issue stemming from his work on another project that had fueled online debates, while another cautioned that the remark could be read as a provocative metaphor rather than a direct allusion to any individual.
The topic of Charlie Kirk’s death has circulated in online circles since rumors surfaced about his shooting on September 10, described in some coverage as fatal. Kirk, a conservative commentator, had been memorialized in online and media coverage that noted a memorial service in Arizona drew tens of thousands. The circumstances surrounding any such incident have remained a matter of public interest and debate, and authorities have not publicly confirmed every detail circulating online.
Powell’s representatives have not issued a public statement clarifying whether the remark was intended as a genuine allusion to Kirk or as a more general critique of cancel culture and public figures. In the weeks ahead, analysts and fans will watch for any further clarification as Powell continues to promote Chad Powers, which centers on a character navigating fame, consequences, and forgiveness in a media-saturated era.