NBA Suspends Employee After Social Media Posts About Charlie Kirk’s Death

The NBA has suspended a project employee for two weeks without pay after determining his posts reacting to the death of Charlie Kirk violated league policy.

“The project employee has been suspended without pay for two weeks for violating multiple NBA policies,” the league said in a statement to Outkick on Friday, October 17.

The employee, whose name has not been released, criticized Kirk and questioned his legacy after the conservative commentator was killed by a gunman during an event at Utah Valley University on September 10. He was 31.

“Did absolutely nothing healthy for the world except spew dangerous rhetoric,” the employee wrote via his Instagram Story. “The Hypocrites being loudest in the room… nothing new. There is no legacy… he was a terrible person (a s***hole). No sympathy for someone who doesn’t believe in empathy.”

“Oh I also forgot to include ‘thoughts and prayers’ LMAO,” they added on the next slide.

The individual’s profile picture featured the NBA logo, and social media accounts identified him as working for NBA Entertainment.

Authorities arrested Tyler Robinson on September 12 on a flurry of charges, including aggravated murder, in connection with Kirk’s death. Robinson, 22, did not enter a plea and is currently in custody without bail in Utah. If convicted, he could potentially face the death penalty.

Turning Point USA, the conservative youth organization that Kirk founded, released a statement on Friday calling for the NBA to fire the suspended employee.

“The opinion of this team, and that of any decent American, is that if someone is morally depraved enough to celebrate the coldblooded assassination of an innocent husband and father, let alone an American hero like Charlie, then they deserve to be immediately fired,” a spokesperson told OutKick, which first broke the news of the employee’s posts.

“It’s an instant black eye to any employer who refuses to take action. This shouldn’t be newsworthy or exceptional. We hope the NBA doesn’t stop at suspension but goes the full distance and fires this individual, as they well deserve.”

In the weeks since Kirk’s death, multiple public figures have lost their jobs due to social media posts reacting to the shooting, including several in professional sports.

Gerald Bourguet, a Phoenix Suns beat reporter for PHNX Sports, lost his job after posting via X, “‘Political differences’ are not the same thing as spewing hateful rhetoric on a daily basis, and refusing to mourn a life devoted to that cause is not the same thing as celebrating gun violence. Just so we’re 100% clear on that.”

“The opinions expressed by our employees do not represent the views of PHNX or ALLCITY Network,” a statement read. “We take matters involving violence very seriously and are committed to ensuring that ALLCITY remains a safe place for our employees and community alike. We have addressed this matter with the individual and made the decision to part ways.”

Charlie Rock, then the communications director for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, was fired after posting, “Why are yall sad? Your man said it was worth it …” to his X account.

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