choi siwon
CHOI SIWON, a member of SUPER JUNIOR, has sparked a wave of discussion after paying tribute to Charlie Kirk, known as a close associate of U.S. President Donald Trump. In response, he shared a message with fans to express his thoughts.
On September 11, CHOI SIWON posted a tribute to Charlie Kirk on his personal social media account.
The post featured images of Charlie Kirk during his lifetime, along with photos of him with his family. It also included a cross and the message, “REST IN PEACE CHARLIE KIRK.”
Charlie Kirk was a conservative activist widely known as a staunch supporter and close ally of Trump. He passed away on September 10 (local time) after being fatally shot during a debate held at Utah Valley University in Utah, USA.
CHOI SIWON, a known practicing Protestant Christian, expressed his condolences for Kirk, who was also Protestant. However, because Charlie Kirk was seen as a far-right figure, the post drew criticism from those who felt CHOI SIWON was making a political statement. As the controversy grew, he ultimately deleted the post.
Amid the backlash, CHOI SIWON addressed the situation on September 12 through the fan communication platform Bubble, offering a detailed explanation that drew attention.
He wrote:
“He was a Christian, a father, and a husband. Regardless of the circumstances, being shot and killed while speaking in front of students is a heartbreaking tragedy that transcends political views. That’s why I paid tribute to him.”
He continued:
“I appreciate the media coverage of my post, but since it seemed to be interpreted in a way that didn’t reflect my original intent, I felt that my sincere feelings had been conveyed and decided to remove it. However, since the attention hasn’t stopped, I wanted to offer some clarification.”
Since then, even unrelated posts on CHOI SIWON’s account have continued to draw heated debate among users.
Journalist: Shawn
Translator: Shawn
Source: SNS CHOI SIWON
