A bizarre and unfounded online conspiracy theory linking conservative commentator Charlie Kirk to a murder plot has ignited a significant social media storm, prominently featuring media personalities Candace Owens and Cabot Phillips. The theory, which trended extensively on X (formerly Twitter), falsely suggested foul play regarding Kirk, who is alive and well. The controversy has highlighted how viral speculation can quickly outpace facts in today's digital landscape.
The Spark: Viral Claims and Online Speculation
The incident began when posts attempting to link Cabot Phillips, a senior editor at The Daily Wire, to unverified claims about Charlie Kirk started gaining traction on X. Users began sharing screenshots, old videos, and constructing elaborate timelines, creating a wave of confusion. Candace Owens added fuel to the fire by using her X account to question timelines and appearances on shows associated with The Daily Wire. She specifically reacted to posts alleging Phillips was in certain locations prior to events connected to Turning Point USA, the organization founded by Charlie Kirk.
Owens scrutinised clips from Daily Wire programming, pointing to changes in Phillips's beard as potential evidence that some episodes were pre-recorded, implying a possible discrepancy in the narrative. This back-and-forth drew in numerous observers and well-known names within conservative media circles, keeping the topic trending for an extended period.
Cabot Phillips's Direct Denial and Personal Revelation
As the theory gained momentum, Cabot Phillips took to X to issue a direct and personal denial. He firmly refuted the core claim of his presence at a key location mentioned in the conspiracy posts. In a detailed post, Phillips stated, "I was not at Ft. Huachuca on 9/8 or 9/9. I've never been. I was home in Nashville both days." He went further to share a private life update, explaining that on the afternoon of September 8, he attended an ultrasound appointment with his wife and purchased balloons for a gender reveal party with their son that evening, happily announcing, "It's a boy if anyone was wondering!"
Despite this clear rebuttal, Owens continued to press the issue. She questioned the authenticity of the images and videos Phillips shared publicly and asked him to send the original files directly to her so she could examine the metadata for verification. The public dispute continued to play out on the platform.
Clarification and the Current Status
On December 31, Candace Owens provided an update, confirming that Cabot Phillips had contacted her directly. He explained that some of The Daily Wire shows in question were indeed recorded earlier than their broadcast dates, which addressed a portion of her timeline concerns. This interaction partially clarified one element of the online debate but left the broader, more dangerous murder theory completely unaddressed by facts because none exist to support it.
The most critical fact remains that Charlie Kirk is alive, and there has been no murder or assassination. No official law enforcement agency or credible news source has reported any incident concerning Kirk's safety related to these theories. The entire episode serves as a case study in how rapidly unsubstantiated social media claims can spiral into trending topics, creating narratives detached from reality. The sources for this sequence of events are the public posts made by both Candace Owens and Cabot Phillips on their respective X accounts.
