Two-tier policing row follows 'kill them all' post after Charlie Kirk murder
Kent Police's decision not to prosecute a left-wing TikTok influencer triggers outrage from JK Rowling and others; the debate over online speech and enforcement widens
A dispute over the policing of online speech widened Monday after Kent Police decided not to prosecute Charlotte Hayes, a left-wing TikTok influencer with about 212,000 followers, for a video urging 'kill them all' in the wake of the murder of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. The 25-year-old posted the clip after Kirk was fatally shot during a visit to Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. Police said they visited Hayes at home but, after reviewing the content, concluded no offences had been committed and she was given words of advice. Hayes later deleted the video.
The decision prompted swift criticism online and from political and media figures. Kirk's supporters condemned the video, and Turning Point USA published a post on X denouncing it. Critics argued that the authorities were applying different standards based on political orientation as the case entered a broader debate about when online speech crosses legal lines. Prominent voices, including author J.K. Rowling and former housing secretary Robert Jenrick, drew comparisons to other cases where figures were prosecuted for social-media posts.
J.K. Rowling questioned whether a social-media influencer could utter violent language and escape punishment, contrasting Hayes's treatment with that of figures who have attracted criminal charges for online remarks. Robert Jenrick said the law was not being applied equally, pointing to past cases such as Lucy Connolly, who was jailed for a tweet inciting violence in the wake of the Southport murders, and to other instances involving public figures. Toby Young, head of the Free Speech Union, labeled the case an example of unnecessary police involvement in rhetoric.
Hayes has since told reporters she regrets posting the video and said her words were misconstrued. She claimed the line about killing was satirical and borrowed from the 1972 cult film Pink Flamingos — not a general statement about people with differing political beliefs. She also argued that the phrase 'eat the rich' is a common left-wing taunt and insisted that no one intends cannibalism in reality.
In the days after the clip circulated, Hayes reported a flood of online abuse and threats. She said police provided a portable panic alarm and stepped up security at her home. She was also evicted from a vintage clothing stall at the Petticoat Lane Emporium in Folkestone, where she had recently set up shop; the market owner said business had been affected as phones rang off the hook and patrons threatened to damage her pitch.
Kent Police said they received allegations about the video on Sept. 13, conducted a review, and found no offences. The officer assigned to the case visited Hayes and issued words of advice; the video was subsequently deleted. The police did not provide further details about the alleged threats or the social-media assault claims.
The episode comes amid a wider conversation about how police handle online speech. National and regional law-enforcement bodies have pressed for clearer guidance on when online comments cross the line into criminal acts. The National Police Chiefs’ Council, the Metropolitan Police and the College of Policing last month wrote to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood seeking statutory clarity. Police leaders argue that without explicit rules, officers risk being held accountable for decisions in highly publicized cases or tied to political considerations, a point echoed by Nick Smart, chairman of the Police Superintendents' Association.
The case has intensified debate about two-tier policing, a phrase used by critics to describe different police responses to similar conduct depending on political alignment or status. In the Charlie Kirk episode, some observers noted that other online posts praising violence against political opponents have not triggered the same level of police response. Support for Kirk and condemnation of the video’s content have crossed party lines, but the broader question of how to regulate online rhetoric remains unresolved.
Kent Police and Hayes did not provide further comment beyond the department’s initial statement. The incident has prompted renewed scrutiny of how social-media expressions are treated by law enforcement and how such decisions are communicated to the public.