MOVING FORWARD

Kristin Chenoweth Speaks Out on Backlash to Charlie Kirk Posts

The Broadway icon received blowback in September after commenting on the conservative activist’s death.

Kristin Chenoweth has broken her silence on the blowback to her comments about the death of Charlie Kirk. The Wicked star, 57, addressed the controversy in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter on Monday. “It was tough on me,” she said, declining to comment further. “I’m not going to answer any questions about it because I dealt with it. It nearly broke me, and that’s all I’m going to say. You probably know my heart, so you probably know.” After the conservative activist was shot dead in September, Chenoweth wrote in the comments of Kirk’s final Instagram post: “I’m. So. Upset. Didn’t always agree but appreciated some perspectives.” “What a heartbreak,” she added. “I know where he is now. Heaven. But still 💔” Later that day, she posted an Instagram story that read: “Such a sad, senseless, and disgusting act! Wow... prayers for the Kirk family and prayers for our nation.” The remarks triggered swift backlash, with social media users accusing her of holding conservative values despite endorsing Kamala Harris last year and describing herself as a “liberal Christian.”