The Chase's Anne Hegerty draws online ire after comments on Charlie Kirk killing

Anne Hegerty, the British quizmaster known as the "Governess" on ITV's The Chase, drew widespread criticism after posting social media comments about the fatal shooting of U.S. conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Hegerty, 67, told her roughly 148,000 followers that she had "never heard of Charlie Kirk before Wednesday night" and said that if they had met she would have challenged some of his remarks. She later wrote, "I join Bernie Sanders in deploring his murder," and engaged directly with followers who accused her of being "misinformed." Hegerty also defended free speech and urged Americans to "try taking the temperature down a bit," writing that "this kind of hair-trigger angriness and sensitivity and telling people to stop talking is exactly why you get people doing this sort of thing in the first place."

The posts came after the Sept. 10 shooting at Utah Valley University that left 31-year-old Kirk dead. Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old student, has been charged in the killing and made an initial court appearance via videoconference on Wednesday. Prosecutors filed capital murder charges on Tuesday; Robinson has been held without bail, according to court records and media reporting.

Kirk, a co-founder of the conservative group Turning Point USA and a prominent campus speaker, was addressing students when witnesses said he was struck by a single bullet. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition and later pronounced dead. He is survived by his wife, Erika Frantzve, and their two young children.

Hegerty's posts prompted a stream of responses from social media users, some accusing her of commenting without sufficient knowledge of Kirk's record and others urging her not to weigh in. One user wrote that her remarks were "stupid and terribly misinformed," while another argued there was "nothing he says that is controversial if you actually take time to listen." Hegerty replied to some critics and at times used humor in her exchanges.

Authorities investigating the shooting said Robinson may have been radicalized online and held what they described as a "leftist ideology," according to local officials and early reporting. During his court appearance, Robinson appeared expressionless and answered only to confirm his identity, media reports said. Some accounts described him as wearing what appeared to be a suicide vest during the hearing; court filings and official statements provided to the media set out the charges but did not elaborate publicly on the attire reported by some outlets.

The killing has intensified debate in the United States over the safety of campus speakers, political polarization and the role of online radicalization. Kirk, who rose to prominence by speaking at college campuses and producing media aimed at young conservative audiences, was a polarizing figure whose supporters praised his role in mobilizing young Republicans and whose critics challenged his rhetoric and influence.

Hegerty's involvement underlines how a high-profile violent incident in one country can prompt immediate commentary and reaction in another, particularly on social media platforms where public figures and private citizens engage in rapid exchanges. Her posts and the subsequent backlash illustrate the fraught immediate public discourse that often follows politically charged violence.

Officials in Utah continue to investigate the shooting. Prosecutors have said they will pursue capital murder charges, and authorities have not yet disclosed a motive publicly beyond statements about possible online influences. Court proceedings are ongoing, and officials urged the public to rely on official updates as the case proceeds through the legal system.