SA bed company faces backlash over Charlie Kirk advert
Too soon or too insensitive? A South African bed company is facing backlash for mocking Charlie Kirk’s death in an advert…
South African bed company Beds2Go sparked controversy with an advertisement that mocked Charlie Kirk’s death.
A sniper shot and killed the right-wing political activist during a guest appearance at a Utah university last week, and police have since arrested the alleged killer.
BEDS2GO MOCKS CHARLIE KIRK’S DEATH IN CONTROVERSIAL AD
KwaZulu-Natal company Beds2Go shared a TikTok advert mocking Charlie Kirk’s death.
The company, known for its tongue-in-cheek posts that have earned nearly 10 million likes, featured two sales representatives in the clip using the US political activist to market their products.
“Rest in peace to Charlie Kirk…Hate him or love him, a life is a life. But on a more positive note…”, said one rep.
The second chimed in: “Charlie couldnt be saved, but your spine still has a chance”, referring to the single bullet to the neck that killed the American
The post quickly had followers divided on the “insensitive” nature of the advert.
While some found it humorous, others vowed to boycott the company.
Zariyha the Queen posted: “I’ve removed all Beds2Go products in my house. You just lost a customer.”
Martin Koen: “This was too far, guys!
Charlie Phillips: “This is so wrong! How are you still in business?”
WHAT DID CONTROVERSIAL US RIGHT-WINGER SAY ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA?
Many South Africans had never heard of Charlie Kirk until his brutal murder last week.
Since then, people have revisited comments the 31-year-old staunch Christian made about the country.
In May, Charlie appeared on the Tucker Carlson Podcast and compared the US’s “immigrant emergency” to life in South Africa.
He said: “I don’t want to live in that country, I don’t want to live in South Africa. I don’t want to live in resentment or bitterness. A country where I have to walk and drive around in armoured cars all the time, and I can’t leave my house after 10 pm”.
That same month, Charlie Kirk retweeted a clip of US President Donald Trump’s Oval Office meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. In it, Charlie praised Trump for holding Ramaphosa “accountable”. He also expressed his concern about white farm murders in the country.
He posted: “God bless President Trump. He’s a president who is actually the LEADER of the Free World”.
In 2018, he posted on X: “Trump should cancel the $500 million of annual foreign aid we give to South Africa until their racist and dangerous policy of murdering white farmers is forever discontinued and the criminals who stole the land are jailed and never see the light of day again”.