Hundreds fired over Charlie Kirk posts, some rebuild lives a year later

September 13, 2026 at 05:49 AM2 min

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Gerald Bourguet was fired from PHNX Sports in September 2025 after posting criticism of Charlie Kirk hours after Kirk was fatally shot at Utah Valley University. Bourguet's address was exposed online and his family fled the state, returning months later to sell their home. Hundreds of others were fired or disciplined over Kirk-related posts, with some reinstated and others starting over.

Key Facts

Gerald Bourguet was fired from PHNX Sports after posting criticism of Charlie Kirk on 10 September 2025.
Bourguet's address was exposed online and he received threatening text messages, prompting his family to flee the state with their four-month-old child.
Hundreds of people were fired or disciplined over critical comments about Kirk after his death.
Some of those who lost jobs have been reinstated or received restitution, sometimes in the millions.
Bourguet, now 35, says he does not regret his posts but acknowledges his life will never be the same.

The Firing

Gerald Bourguet was fired from his job as a professional basketball writer at PHNX Sports after making a series of online posts critical of Charlie Kirk. The posts were made hours after Kirk was fatally shot on 10 September while speaking at Utah Valley University. In the posts, Bourguet described Kirk as an "evil man" and suggested he had dedicated his life to hateful causes. Screenshots of Bourguet's critical posts went viral quickly, and he was fired from his job. PHNX Sports, Bourguet's former employer, did not respond to the BBC's request for comment.

Aftermath and Relocation

Bourguet's address was exposed online, and he began receiving threatening text messages. Concerned for their safety, the family fled the state with their four-month-old child. They returned months later to sell the house and permanently relocated. A year later, Bourguet says he doesn't regret what he said, but acknowledged: "My life will never be the same after this". "At age 35, I am having to start over in a lot of respects… I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy," Bourguet said from his new location, which the BBC agreed to not disclose.

Wider Repercussions

Bourguet was one of hundreds fired or disciplined over critical comments of Kirk after his death. While some of those who have lost their jobs have been reinstated or received restitution - sometimes in the millions - others like Bourguet have had to rebuild from scratch. In the aftermath of Kirk's assassination, most people kept their feelings to themselves, or shared them with close friends. But on polarised social media, people rushed to laude, or denounce, the controversial activist. Some called the criticisms, posted hours after his death, tasteless, while others called for swift action, arguing they were callous, mocking, and could even incite further violence.