Super Junior member Choi Siwon has issued a statement following mounting criticism from fans over his tribute to Charlie Kirk, the right-wing activist who was recently killed in a shooting. Some fans have even gone so far as to demand his departure from the group.
On September 12, Choi addressed the controversy through fan platform Bubble, writing: “There has been much discussion about my tribute to Charlie Kirk, so I wish to explain. He was a Christian, a father, and a husband. Regardless of the circumstances, it is heartbreaking that he lost his life to gun violence while giving a lecture in front of many college students. That is why I paid tribute to him.”
He continued, “I am grateful for the media attention, but I felt my intentions were misunderstood by the press and others. Believing that my sincere feelings were already conveyed, I deleted the post. However, since there is still great interest, I want to explain again.”
Kirk, the founder of the conservative organization Turning Point USA and a key figure in former President Donald Trump’s re-election efforts, was shot and killed on September 10 (local time) during a debate event at Utah Valley University.
Choi had shared a memorial post from American pastor and author John Bevere and the Christian community Bible Alive on Instagram on September 11, expressing condolences for Kirk’s death.
However, criticism soon followed from netizens pointing to Kirk’s history of racially charged and misogynistic remarks. Despite Choi’s clarification, backlash persists, with some fans creating Instagram accounts calling for his removal from Super Junior.
A devout Christian, Choi has previously drawn controversy for his social media activity. He once liked a post opposing Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests and shared content opposing same-sex marriage, later apologizing after public backlash. Nevertheless, he has never publicly endorsed any political party.
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