• A Jezebel article revealed they paid Etsy witches to curse Charlie Kirk just two days before his fatal shooting.
• The piece, framed as satire, has provoked outrage over timing, ethics, and how cultural commentary intersects with tragedy.
• Jezebel has since added an editor’s note condemning violence, but the story continues to spark debate across media and faith communities.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TDR) — Conservative activist Charlie Kirk has become the center of an unusual cultural controversy following the publication of a Jezebel article titled “We Paid Some Etsy Witches to Curse Charlie Kirk.” Published just two days before his assassination at Utah Valley University, the story has fueled sharp criticism, with many questioning the boundaries between satire, provocation, and responsibility.

Spells for Misfortune

In the article, Jezebel staff described commissioning so-called Etsy witches to place symbolic hexes on Kirk. The curses ranged from microphone malfunctions to public embarrassment — none suggesting physical harm. One seller even requested Kirk’s birthdate for “accuracy,” with the supposed effects said to take two to three weeks. The intent, the writer claimed, was not violence but mockery.

Following Kirk’s death, Jezebel added an editor’s note insisting that the outlet “condemns the shooting in the strongest possible terms” and reiterating that it does not endorse violence. The clarification, however, has not stopped critics from blasting the publication’s judgment.

Timing and Backlash

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The timing of the piece — appearing just before Kirk’s murder — triggered outrage well beyond partisan lines. Outlets such as the Economic Times reported on the backlash, noting how quickly the satire crossed into uncomfortable territory once real tragedy struck.

The Hindustan Times observed that the article went viral after the shooting, with critics accusing Jezebel of normalizing cultural cruelty in a moment of heightened tension.

Internet Memes and Pagan Pushback

Social media reacted swiftly, flooding platforms with memes about Etsy witches that mixed humor with unease. Some users mocked the idea of spell-casting; others criticized how a satire piece could so easily be reframed in the context of political violence.

Pagan and Wiccan communities voiced concern as well. The Wild Hunt reported that practitioners feared renewed stigma against modern witchcraft, with some noting that their beliefs were being trivialized or weaponized in ways that distort spiritual practice.

Media Responsibility in Focus

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For media observers, the Jezebel controversy is a case study in how satire can backfire when real-world events change its context. While defenders insist the piece was harmless cultural commentary, critics argue that provocation is no excuse for reckless timing.

Does Jezebel’s witchcraft stunt highlight the dangers of satire intersecting with tragedy—or will it be remembered as an overblown clash between media excess and cultural outrage?

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