How Charlie Kirk’s Killing Sparked Unfounded Theories About Groypers

Soon after Charlie Kirk‘s assassination, some on the political left quickly spread a baseless theory that the conservative podcaster was killed by a follower of the ultra-right-wing group called Groypers.

The big picture: Internet searches for Groypers skyrocketed last week as critics tried to connect Kirk’s suspected shooter, Tyler Robinson, and the group’s leader, Nick Fuentes, a podcaster known for edgy, racist and socially transgressive content.

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Zoom in: Groypers often confront more “mainstream” organizations, like Kirk’s Turning Point USA, for failing to promote their vision of an “America First” agenda, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

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Context: When authorities announced Robinson’s arrest, they revealed that bullet casings recovered by investigators were inscribed with messages that appeared to be related to gamer and meme culture.

• “Tyler Robinson, the alleged assassin of Charlie Kirk, is speculated to be a Groyper based on his memes and rhetoric,” the left-libertarian hacking collective Anonymous told its 5.3 million X followers Friday.
• Pointing to the “Squatting Slav” pose and Halloween costume Robinson wore, some liberals online argued it was associated with Groypers. But others disputed the claim, as does Fuentes.

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Two other engraved bullet casings referenced fascism: one apparently referenced a video game and said “Hey, fascist! Catch,” and another referenced the antifascist Italian song “Bella Ciao.”

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