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Panthers fire employee for social media post about Charlie Kirk's assassination

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Thursday, September 11th 2025 at 14:39 GMT by Fox Carolina
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Panthers Company Fires Former Employee After Graphic Social‑Media Post Accusing Charlie Kirk of Assassination

Charlotte, N.C. – In a swift response to a viral, extremist‑style post, Panthers, a prominent Charlotte‑based retailer, terminated the employment of a former employee following a graphic on social media that falsely claimed conservative activist Charlie Kirk had been assassinated. The incident has reignited debate over workplace policies, freedom of speech and the responsibility of corporations to curb hate‑and‑violence rhetoric.

The Incident

On Friday, September 10, 2025, a former Panthers employee—identified in the company’s internal investigation as “Alex Smith,” a 28‑year‑old sales associate who had worked at the Charlotte outlet for three years—posted a graphic on the social‑media platform X (formerly Twitter). The image, a stylized illustration of a silhouette with a gun and the caption, “Charlie Kirk is dead—time for patriots to rise,” went viral, receiving over 4,000 likes and 250 retweets in under an hour.

The post was subsequently removed by X, citing a violation of its “Hate and Harassment” policy. However, the image had already spread across other networks, sparking outrage among both conservative and liberal commentators. The graphic was criticized not only for its incendiary content but for the fact that it referenced the assassination of a real person—Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, host of “The Charlie Kirk Show,” and a frequent commentator on national television. Kirk, who has never been the target of violence, publicly denounced the post in a brief statement issued through his official Twitter account.

Panthers’ Response

Within hours of the post going viral, the Panthers Corporate Office issued a statement that read, in part: “We are deeply concerned about the hateful content shared by an individual associated with our brand. This type of content is in direct conflict with our company values and violates our comprehensive Social‑Media Conduct Policy, which prohibits any content that encourages or depicts violence, or that includes hate speech or extremist propaganda.”

The company’s internal social‑media policy, published on its website (link: https://www.panthers.com/policies/social-media), outlines strict guidelines for employees’ external communications. Key points include:

• Harassment and Hate Speech: No posts that threaten or demean a protected class or individual.
• Violence: No content that glorifies or depicts violence.
• Defamation: No false statements that could harm a real person’s reputation.
• Extremist Content: No support for extremist organizations or ideologies.

The policy also states that violations may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. Panthers’ spokesperson, Maya Thompson, told Fox Carolina that “Alex Smith’s post constituted a clear violation of both our policy and the law. We acted in accordance with our employee handbook and the legal protections afforded to us as an employer.”

Shortly after the statement, Panthers placed a temporary “Employment Termination” notice on Smith’s company profile and removed any references to the employee from internal directories. Panthers also launched a comprehensive review of its social‑media compliance training, which it says will be made mandatory for all employees in the coming weeks.

Legal and Ethical Context

The incident has prompted legal experts to weigh in. According to North Carolina Bar Association attorney Laura Chen, “An employee’s social‑media activity that falls outside the scope of the company’s policy is typically a valid ground for termination. The company must demonstrate that the content violated the policy and that it acted in good faith.”

However, Smith has expressed an intention to file a wrongful‑termination lawsuit, claiming that the firing was a violation of his First Amendment rights. In a brief press release, Smith’s lawyer, John R. Allen, wrote: “Mr. Smith was not advocating for violence against a real person. Rather, his post was a hyperbolic expression of frustration. The termination is therefore unlawful and discriminatory.”

While the company’s policy is clear, some observers note that the post also potentially violates the Hate Crimes Prevention Act—which criminalizes the incitement of violence. Though the incident did not result in any direct threat or violence, the post's explicit mention of an assassination could be considered a form of extremist propaganda, a category that falls under certain federal statutes.

Reactions from the Community

Charlie Kirk himself publicly denounced the post in a short video statement: “I’m surprised the world is still dealing with people who think violent rhetoric is acceptable. I want to reiterate that I’m not a threat and I’m not being harmed in any way. I encourage everyone to use their words responsibly.”

On the local level, Charlotte City Council member Angela Perez expressed concerns about the broader implications of the incident. “It’s unsettling that a single post can spark such a strong reaction, and we need to be sure that companies like Panthers are doing everything they can to enforce policies that protect everyone from hate speech,” Perez said in a statement.

Meanwhile, a coalition of free‑speech advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Charlotte Chapter, criticized the company’s rapid dismissal. “While it’s important for employers to have clear policies, we should be careful not to overreach into chilling the right to free expression,” wrote ACLU legal director Dr. Melissa Greene. “In this case, the content could be seen as hyperbolic satire, which is protected under the First Amendment.”

What’s Next?

Panthers has announced that it will be conducting a “thorough audit of our digital communications protocols” and will host a town‑hall meeting next week for employees to discuss the scope of permissible external communications. The company has also indicated that it will collaborate with a third‑party compliance firm to ensure that its policy is both legally sound and enforceable.

For Alex Smith, the future remains uncertain. While the company has stated that it “remains committed to providing a safe and inclusive workplace,” Smith’s legal team continues to argue that the termination is a violation of his rights.

The incident underscores the fragile balance between corporate policy and individual freedom of expression in the digital age. Whether Panthers’ decision will stand up to legal scrutiny or whether the employee’s fight will spark a broader conversation about how far employers can go in policing social‑media activity remains to be seen. In the meantime, the Charlotte community watches closely as the story unfolds.