A Utah-based content creator has apologized after promoting his social media accounts at the scene of the shooting that killed Charlie Kirk.
The influencer, known as Elder TikTok, was at Utah Valley University on Wednesday (Sept. 10) to attend the kick-off to Kirk’s American Comeback Tour.
Footage from the outdoor event showed the right-wing political commentator discussing gun violence in front of a large crowd of people before a single bullet hit him in the neck.
As the spectators began running for cover, Elder TikTok pulled out his phone, began recording the chaos, and encouraged viewers to follow his Instagram.
“It’s your boy, Elder TikTok. There was just a gunshot at Charlie Kirk,” he said in the footage. “We’re in Utah! There was gunfire! This is not a joke … This is not a drill. Mormon Central, Utah. There was a gun that just fired off here at Charlie Kirk. I am not playing with y’all.
“Hey, make sure you go to church on Sunday. Read the Book of Mormon,” he continued as others could be seen fleeing in the backdrop. “This is not a drill. I’m not playing with y’all. Hey, Jesus is Lord. Jesus will protect you. Jesus is your savior, bro. I’m not even lying. Make sure you subscribe to Elder TikTok on Instagram.”
The content creator, who has more than 147,000 and 89,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram, respectively, faced swift backlash over the video, with many accusing him of exploiting the shooting for personal gain.
Elder TikTok expressed regret over the post and expressed condolences to Kirk’s wife, Erika Frantzve, and their 2-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son.
“Before I say anything else, my thoughts, my prayers, my condolences, and my love goes to Charlie Kirk’s family,” he said in a video on Wednesday.
“It’s heartbreaking, and I just want to let you know that me and my family have already prayed for you, and we’re here for you during this time. It’s just unbelievable what happened, and I love Charlie Kirk.”
Elder TikTok said he had been a longtime fan of Kirk and was especially moved by his religious content.
“He taught me things about Jesus that I didn’t know myself,” he continued. “That’s why I really was a supporter and a fan, and he will be missed, and I know he’s in heaven, and we’ll see him again… Rest in peace to Charlie Kirk. And all the love to Erica and the family at this time.”
Elder TikTok confirmed he had deleted his original video after speaking to his parents.
“It was bad, it was very insensitive, it was very inappropriate, and just straight up wrong,” he told viewers. “It was a mistake, and I apologize for that. I apologize for my insensitivity. When I posted it, I did it without thinking.”
The TikToker claimed the shooting occurred as he was in line to ask Kirk a question. He said there were about five other people in front of him before the pundit was fatally shot.
“I was right there in the front. I saw everything happen. I was right there,” he recalled. “After it happened and everyone started moving and running, my instant reaction was just start filming, just start filming, document everything just in case.
“My mistake and my wrongdoing was what I said,” he explained. “And I said it because, in the moment, I was not thinking straight. And that’s on me. I’ll take fault for that. I’ve never been in a shooting before, but I should have maybe just kept composed, relaxed, and not be so insensitive to post.”
Elder TikTok then apologized to his “friends and supporters,” reassuring them he had “learned” from the incident and will do better “going forward.”
“I know you guys trust me to make these videos, and if I broke your trust, I apologize,” he said. “I’m still learning. I’m young. I’m a small content creator, and I’m learning day by day... I will be more sensitive in what I post, and this is a great learning lesson for me.”
Elder TikTok concluded his message by reiterating his support for Kirk’s family and insisting the video was not about boosting his social media reach.
“I don’t want any followers from this,” he claimed. “This video is for A, for me to correct my wrongdoings and B, to encourage anybody that’s watching or listening to please pray for Charlie Kirk’s family right now … I love Charlie Kirk and I love what he stood for. He stood for God. So do I … I’m gonna be a better content creator, thanks to the people who reached out.”
After he was shot in the neck, Kirk’s team placed him in a private vehicle and rushed him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Local and federal officials said a manhunt for Kirk’s shooter is ongoing and released images of a “person of interest” on Thursday. The FBI asked the public to help identify the individual in the photos and offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Kirk’s shooter.