America watched in horror when conservative activist Charlie Kirk was gunned down on a university stage — a brutal act that should have united the country in grief and a renewed commitment to law and order. Instead, a new low was reached when influential left-wing commentators treated the tragedy as a mere political prop, and some even suggested that conservatives should live in fear for exercising their beliefs.
The alleged shooter, identified and charged by prosecutors, reportedly confessed to family members and now faces the full weight of the law as authorities piece together motive and evidence. This is not a partisan moment for grandstanding; it is a criminal investigation that demands solemnity and restraint from public figures, not gloating or calls that inflame a nation already on edge.
Yet one prominent streamer, Steven “Destiny” Bonnell II, crossed the line from cruel commentary into something resembling encouragement when a clip of him saying “you need conservatives to be afraid of getting killed when they go to events” circulated online. The clip went viral for a reason: when public personalities float ideas that normalize fear or violence against a political group, they are weaponizing their platform and endangering ordinary Americans.
Make no mistake — Destiny has a record of polarizing rhetoric, and while platforms must be consistent in enforcement, facts matter. Lead investigators and fact-checkers note that his Twitch account had already been under suspension prior to this recent uproar, underscoring that this pattern of aggressive behavior did not begin overnight and that his complaints of sudden censorship ring hollow.
Still, Destiny publicly blamed Elon Musk and “conservatives” for his loss of access, framing himself as a martyr of free speech even as he praised or shrugged at rhetoric that borders on incitement. That inversion — playing the victim while advocating for the silencing or intimidation of ideological opponents — is the moral bankruptcy of today’s performative left.
Americans who love liberty should be appalled by both the violence and the glee some on the left show in its wake. We must demand accountability from influencers who use their megaphones to dehumanize fellow citizens, and we must insist that platforms enforce rules fairly and transparently — not as cudgels for favored factions. Vigorously defending free speech also means refusing to tolerate speech that celebrates harm or coercion.
Our politics is already toxic enough without public figures fanning the flames. Patriots of every stripe should call out murderous rhetoric when it appears, hold platforms to consistent standards, and ensure the right to speak never becomes a license to threaten or terrorize. The nation needs healing and honest debate, not streaming stars who cheer when one side learns to fear the worst.
