In September 2025, Gerald Bourguet, a 35‑year‑old former PHNX Sports employee, thought he had reached a dream life. He and his wife had bought a house with a pool, welcomed a baby boy, and he was writing about professional men’s basketball as a full‑time job.
That changed when he posted a series of online comments critical of the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk hours after Kirk was fatally shot on 10 September while speaking on the campus of Utah Valley University. Bourguet described Kirk as an “evil man” and accused him of dedicating his life to hateful causes, while also condemning Kirk’s supporters for not speaking out against school shootings.
His screenshots went viral, leading to his dismissal, the exposure of his address, and threatening text messages. Concerned for their safety, the family fled the state with their four‑month‑old baby, later selling the house and relocating permanently.
“At age 35, I am having to start over in a lot of respects… I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy,” Bourguet told the BBC from an undisclosed location. He says he does not regret what he said, but acknowledges that his life will never be the same.
Bourguet is one of hundreds who lost their jobs or faced disciplinary action after Kirk’s death. While some were reinstated or received restitution, others, like Bourguet, had to rebuild from scratch.
The fallout saw a wave of calls for punishment from high‑level US officials and social media influencers. Vice‑President JD Vance urged people to “call them out” and “call their employer” when celebrating Kirk’s murder. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle condemned anyone who “engages in or endorses political violence or assassination culture.”
Critics on the left argued that the backlash was a form of cancel culture, noting that many who had previously decried the practice were now being punished for expressing dissenting views.
Across the country, more than 600 cases of employees being fired or disciplined for comments about Kirk have been reported, though exact numbers are hard to confirm. The incidents ranged from a Delta Air Lines flight attendant fired for a “good riddance” comment to a Florida biologist dismissed after reposting a meme satirising Kirk’s stance on gun violence.
In the year since Kirk’s killing, dozens of lawsuits have been filed by those who were terminated, alleging that their terminations violated their rights.
For Bourguet, the road ahead remains uncertain. He has expressed no regret for his statements, but the loss of his job, home and sense of security has left him with a future that feels irrevocably altered.
