The assassination of Charlie Kirk has shaken the country to its core — not only because of the brutal act itself, but because of the grotesque celebrations that followed in certain corners of American culture. Among the most jarring responses came from Chelsea Wolfe, a biological male and transgender BMX rider who represented the U.S. as an alternate at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics.
Instead of joining the chorus of athletes condemning violence, Wolfe littered Instagram with posts mocking Kirk’s death. One story featured a USA Today report about the killing overlaid with a cartoon of Dora the Explorer cheering, “We did it!” Another selfie showed Wolfe giving a thumbs-up with the caption: “Being a Nazi is completely optional btw. He didn’t have to do all that, but he did and now he’s dead.”
Wolfe doubled down by comparing Kirk to a Nazi again: “We hate Nazis because they want us dead.” Additional posts accused him of being a “fascist organizer” and dismissed sympathy for his widow, Erika, and their two young children as weakness.
The backlash was swift. Even Martina Navratilova, the tennis legend who has often clashed with transgender activists over women’s sports, condemned Wolfe’s behavior as “sickening.”
Wolfe is no stranger to controversy. In 2020, a Facebook post resurfaced where the cyclist declared: “My goal is to win the Olympics so I can burn a US flag on the podium.” The statement triggered outrage long before Kirk’s death, painting a portrait of an athlete more interested in provocation than patriotism. And Wolfe’s competitive career effectively ended in 2023, when cycling’s international governing body banned biological males from competing in women’s categories.
The timing of Wolfe’s posts is particularly grotesque. Kirk was assassinated on stage at Utah Valley University just seconds after addressing the issue of transgender involvement in mass shootings. Reports later confirmed that the rifle used to kill him carried bullets engraved with transgender and anti-fascist slogans, suggesting an ideological motive.
Investigators recovered the .30-06 rifle, still wrapped in a towel, with one spent cartridge in the chamber and three more inscribed rounds in the magazine. Federal agents have verified the authenticity of the evidence, though the investigation remains ongoing.
Meanwhile, President Trump — himself a survivor of an assassination attempt in July 2024 — confirmed Friday that the suspect is now in custody. He praised Kirk as “The Great, and even Legendary” conservative activist who had a unique gift for reaching America’s youth.
Charlie Kirk was just 31. He leaves behind his wife, Erika, their three-year-old daughter, and their 16-month-old son. The family had celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary only months ago.
