The Rock’s Daughter Sparks Backlash Over Charlie Kick Post
The Rock's daughter has been on the receiving end of huge backlash after a post which was perceived to be in reference to the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
On Wednesday, ring-wing political activist Kirk was fatally shot while talking about mass shootings and gun violence at a Utah Valley University, in Orem as part of a "American Combeback tour' event for his nonprofit student conservative organisation Turning Point USA.
The father-and-two, an ally of MAGA and Donald Trump was killed by a single shot, with 22-year-old Tyler Robinson arrested having been identified as the suspected shooter by authorities.
President Trump has confirmed Kirk will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom after his death.
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But Simone Johnson, the eldest daughter of WWE icon and film box office sensation Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, was criticised by a chunk of WWE fans for a comment taken as a comment about Kirk and the controversial views he expressed.
Johnson, who performs under the name Ava Raine as the general manager in WWE's NXT brand, reposted a message from New York comedian Gianmarco Soresi, who wrote:
"If you want people to have kind words when you pass, you should say kind words when you’re alive".
Although not named directly, the comment was shared on the day of Kirk's death.
On X, Johnson proceeded to quote Soresi and double down, writing: "And i’ll stand behind this. Be kind, now more than ever."
The post was met with a flurry of angry responses from WWE fans, with many calling for him to be released from her contract.
One on X commented: “Be kind or get assassinated?? I’m sure you’ve said something unkind I know your dad has what an idiotic statement.”
A second said: "@WWE @TKOGrp does tko and wwe stand behind this?”
A third asked: 'Hey @TripleH and @WWE do you want this representing the younger part of the company [just wondering]?"
A fourth wrote: "You need to be fired."
In the NFL, Green Bay Packers paid tribute to Kirk with a moment of silence earlier in the week and were later joined by the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals.
However, Charlie Rock, who worked in communications for the Carolina Panthers, was sacked for mocking Kirk's death on social media.
Similarly, Matthew Dowd, an analyst for MSNBC, was given the boot after speculating on-air that Kirk may have been killed by one his supporter celebrating when reacting to the breaking news.
Josh Lawless