Netflix UK & Ireland faced backlash Thursday after its official social media account published a joke about a “neck injury” on the first anniversary of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
The account posted a series of promotional images Thursday morning with the caption, “Nearly did himself a neck injury.”
The wording quickly drew scrutiny because the post appeared exactly one year after Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was killed on Sept. 10, 2025, during an outdoor campus event attended by thousands. The anniversary was marked Thursday by memorials and tributes from supporters and Republican officials.
There is no evidence that Netflix’s post was intended as a reference to Kirk or his assassination, but many have pointed to the timing and details of the post as referencing the late Charlie Kirk.
The caption appeared to concern a scene from programming being promoted by the streaming service, making it possible that the timing and wording were coincidental.
That explanation did not prevent some social media users from connecting the post to Kirk’s death.
Libs of TikTok, a prominent conservative social media account, criticized Netflix directly in a reply.
“I’m so glad I canceled my subscription. You guys are sick,” the account wrote.
The Netflix post had accumulated more than 2 million views by Thursday afternoon, according to figures displayed on X, as debate over the wording spread across the platform.
The controversy unfolded as Kirk’s death again became a major subject of online discussion on the anniversary of the assassination.
Some users posted tributes to Kirk and his family, while others circulated memes and dark jokes surrounding his death. The online trend has included the term “Kirkiversary” and other references to the assassination, according to contemporary reporting, as reported by Trending Politics.
That broader social media environment contributed to suspicion among critics who questioned whether Netflix’s wording was intentional.
No evidence presented with the post, however, establishes that the streaming company was referencing Kirk.
Netflix UK & Ireland had not publicly stated that its post was related to the anniversary.
Kirk was shot while addressing a crowd at Utah Valley University as part of one of his campus appearances.
Turning Point USA, the conservative organization he co-founded, has continued operating under the leadership of his widow, Erika Kirk, and has expanded its network of high school and college chapters in the year since his death.
The criminal case stemming from Kirk’s killing is also moving toward trial.
Tyler Robinson, 23, has pleaded not guilty to seven charges, including aggravated murder, in connection with Kirk’s death.
Utah District Judge Tony Graf ruled earlier this month that prosecutors had presented sufficient evidence for Robinson to stand trial.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, while Robinson’s attorneys have challenged parts of the government’s case and disputed arguments supporting capital punishment.
A trial date has not yet been set, with another hearing expected in October.
Kirk was also honored Thursday during the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, where attendees watched a memorial video marking one year since his death. Vice President JD Vance was among those who spoke about Kirk’s influence on conservative politics and young voters.
Against that backdrop, Netflix’s otherwise unrelated “neck injury” caption drew heightened attention that it likely would not have received on another date.
Whether the timing was simply an unfortunate coincidence remains unclear, but the post was enough to generate a substantial online backlash on the anniversary of Kirk’s assassination.
