Prominent podcaster Perez Hilton has publicly denounced the wave of online conspiracy theories surrounding the tragic death of commentator Charlie Kirk. His strong reaction came after Brian Harpole, who served as Kirk's head of security, appeared on a popular YouTube show to systematically dismantle the baseless claims that have proliferated on the internet.
Security Chief Sets the Record Straight
The controversy reignited on November 17, 2024, when Brian Harpole, now leading Integrity Security Solutions, gave a detailed interview on The Shawn Ryan Show. Online sleuths had falsely claimed that Harpole's hand movements during the event were covert "signals" to the shooter. In the interview, Harpole firmly rejected these allegations as nonsensical.
"If we needed to tell someone something, we would say it on comms," Harpole explained, referring to secure communication devices. He emphasized that professional security teams would never rely on ambiguous hand gestures that could be mistaken for a simple scratch, calling such a method poor and unreliable communication.
Debunking the Baseless Claims Point by Point
Harpole also addressed other specific rumors. He clarified that another security staffer, Frank Turek, touching his hat was not a signal but a meaningless action, noting that many people in the front row moved in various ways. He expressed profound sadness over the most vicious claim of all: that Charlie Kirk's own wife, Erika Kirk, was involved. Harpole stressed that she is a grieving victim who lost her husband, and accusing her without a shred of evidence is deeply hurtful.
Providing crucial context, Harpole revealed that his security team had recommended the event be moved indoors due to the risks of an open-air setup at Utah Valley University. However, the university decided to keep it outside. Charlie Kirk was shot and killed on September 10, 2024, during that event. Police arrested Tyler Robinson in connection with the shooting.
A "Sick World" of Rapid Misinformation
Following Harpole's interview, Perez Hilton reacted strongly on his website. He labelled the online speculation as "ridiculous" and "unsettling." Hilton, leveraging his understanding of public events, wrote that anyone with real security experience would know these claims make no sense.
He lamented the alarming speed at which unproven stories spread, even when thousands of eyewitnesses were present. Hilton ended his post with a resigned, "What a sick world…" His commentary pushed the story back into the spotlight, highlighting the persistent challenge of combating misinformation, especially for families and teams already enduring immense pain.
The online ecosystem has been rife with confusion, anger, and worry, which has allowed this narrative to grow despite official facts and firsthand accounts from those present. The episode serves as a stark reminder of how quickly conspiracy theories can take root in the aftermath of a public tragedy.
