A Washington teenager says a Build-A-Bear employee refused to let her name a teddy bear after conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Evi McCormick, 16, from Tukwila, Washington, went to the Seattle Build-A-Bear workshop to honor Kirk, the Turning Point USA founder who was assassinated on September 10 at Utah Valley University.
After constructing the bear, McCormick filled out the accompanying birth certificate with “Charlie Kirk.” According to Evi, an employee stopped her, tore up the certificate, and said, “We’re not doing this.”
“She just didn’t agree with it. She didn’t support it,” Evi told KING5. Evi walked out of the store and handed her friend her credit card so the bear could be purchased.
Evi shared a photo of the bear dressed in a suit and red tie, accompanied by audio of Kirk speaking. “Charlie Kirk is an idol to me, and to feel the hate, even onto his supporters, is so unfortunate,” she wrote on social media.
The refusal has drawn attention amid nationwide controversy following Kirk’s assassination.
The incident is one of several cases where people have faced professional consequences over online comments about Kirk’s death, including a Kansas professor placed on leave, as the Daily Mail reported.
Evi said the experience left her “appalled.” She added, “Safe to say, I will not be returning, and my heart genuinely hurts.”
Her mother, Amber McCormick, contacted Build-A-Bear’s corporate office. The company offered a $20 gift card and later apologized. “She said that their goal is to try to prevent this sort of situation from happening to anybody else,” Amber said.
The situation underscores how Kirk’s death continues to influence public debate. Many young conservatives view Kirk as a role model. McCormick’s experience shows how those divisions are affecting everyday interactions, including visits to businesses.
Kirk’s assassination has triggered broader societal reactions, with companies, schools, and public figures facing scrutiny for their responses to the killing. In some cases, people have lost jobs or faced disciplinary action for comments or behavior related to Kirk.
Build-A-Bear has not provided further comment beyond the corporate apology and the $20 gift card.
Evi’s story quickly gained attention online, with supporters expressing outrage at the store’s refusal and highlighting the continuing partisan tensions surrounding Kirk’s legacy.
The teen emphasized that the incident was not political until the employee intervened. “It wasn’t political until she made it that way,” Evi said. Her friend confirmed the group was made uncomfortable by the interaction.
This case highlights the intersection of politics, personal expression, and commercial environments. Conservative figures continue to draw strong reactions in public spaces, and the Kirk assassination has magnified those tensions.
Evi McCormick’s attempt to honor Kirk at Build-A-Bear, and the store’s refusal, is now part of a broader narrative about how Kirk’s supporters are navigating backlash while publicly mourning his death.
