Viral bearded man seen cheering after Charlie Kirk shooting breaks silence and reveals the reason he did it

ByP

A bearded man seen celebrating in the chaotic aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination has identified himself, saying his actions were taken out of context.

The viral footage, captured Wednesday at Utah Valley University, showed him in a cap and T-shirt with his arms raised as the crowd panicked. Critics accused him of cheering Kirk’s death, though he now claims he was shouting “USA! USA!” to distract and steady the crowd.

The clip quickly spread across social media, drawing millions of views on X and becoming one of the most replayed images following the tragedy.

The man, introducing himself as David, released a two-minute video denying he was celebrating. He said at first he thought the loud crack was fireworks or a prank, but soon realized it was gunfire. Seeing Kirk collapse and the security team react, he shouted to project calm and deflect panic.

David insisted he is unfamiliar with Kirk’s politics and would never wish harm on anyone. Yet in a later post, he puzzled viewers by describing himself as “the happiest person you ever met” and referencing “my soldiers, including Charlie,” without clarifying what he meant.

Meanwhile, Kirk’s death continues to shake the nation. The 31-year-old conservative commentator was fatally shot in the neck during a student debate. President Donald Trump called him “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk.”

Authorities arrested Tyler Robinson, 22, after his father turned him in. While Robinson faces trial, David’s viral moment underscores how easily tragedy can fuel confusion online.