Amanda Seyfried refuses to apologise for calling Charlie Kirk hateful: ‘Pretty factual’

Mean Girls actress Amanda Seyfried has doubled down on calling Charlie Kirk “hateful”, stating that her opinion on the Turning Point USA founder is “pretty d*** factual”.

Following the death of the right-wing activist and Donald Trump supporter in September, Oscar-nominated star Seyfried dubbed him “hateful”.

She was swept into a social media storm, attacked by right-wing media outlets and forced to expand on her comment. In a further Instagram post, she wrote that while Kirk’s death was “absolutely disturbing and deplorable in every way imaginable,” she was still allowed to be angry at “misogyny and racist rhetoric”.

Asked about the furore in a new interview with Who What Wear, Seyfried refused to apologise and urged that she is “free to have an opinion” on Kirk’s controversial politics.

“I’m not f**king apologising for that. I mean, for f**k’s sake, I commented on one thing. I said something that was based on actual reality and actual footage and actual quotes. What I said was pretty d*** factual, and I’m free to have an opinion, of course,” she said.

The actress, who is in the midst of Oscar buzz for her titular new role in The Testament of Ann Lee, explained that she had initially thought about deleting her original comment after being concerned for her family’s safety.

She ultimately decided not to back down, and to stand by her viewpoint.

“Thank God for Instagram. I was able to give some clarity, and it was about getting my voice back because I felt like it had been stolen and recontextualised – which is what people do, of course,” she added.

A conservative mouthpiece and key ally of Trump, Charlie Kirk was known for his contentious views on immigration, Islam, gun rights and the transgender community.

Moments before he was shot and killed while giving a talk at Utah Valley University on 10 September, Kirk was discussing the right-wing conspiracy theory linking trans people to mass shootings.

Tyler Robinson, 22, was charged with aggravated murder following the shooting, and is currently awaiting trial.

In her full-length statement at the time, Amanda Seyfried shared her hope that US citizens could agree that the country has experienced “too many senseless and violent deaths and shootings”.

“We’re forgetting the nuance of humanity,” Seyfried wrote.

“I can get angry about misogyny and racist rhetoric and ALSO very much agree that Charlie Kirk’s murder was absolutely disturbing and deplorable in every way imaginable. No one should have to experience this level of violence. This country is grieving too many senseless and violent deaths and shootings. Can we agree on that at least?”

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