Did Charlie Kirk really say those terrible things?

Short answer: Some of them, yes. Others were exaggerated on TV. And one big “he never said that” claim in the original article turns out to be wrong.

Read on—because the most surprising twist is this: while a ZDF commentator overstated a few quotes, the article defending Kirk quietly missed a clear, on‑air statement where he told women to “submit.”

The headline claim vs. the tape: Women should “submit”

The original article says there’s no explicit quote where Kirk says women must submit to men. That’s false.

• On air in late August 2025, Kirk said about Taylor Swift’s engagement: “Reject feminism. Submit to your husband, Taylor. You’re not in charge.” This wasn’t a paraphrase—it’s the line. Source: Media Matters’ recording and write‑up link.
• He has also discussed “wives submit” in biblical terms in other segments.

Key correction: The ZDF commentator’s phrasing (“die Frau muss sich dem Mann unterwerfen”) is supported by Kirk’s own words. The original article’s denial is wrong.

The most viral flashpoint: “Stone gay people”?

ZDF’s Elmar Theveßen told Markus Lanz viewers that Kirk said homosexuals must be stoned. That’s not what the tape shows.

What Kirk actually did:

• In June 2024, he cited Leviticus 20:13—which calls for the death penalty for sex between men—and described biblical sexual rules as “God’s perfect law,” adding a glib “just sayin’.” That framing understandably set off alarms. Coverage and clips: LGBTQ Nation, JoeMyGod.
• After Kirk’s death, author Stephen King claimed Kirk had endorsed stoning—and later apologized, saying he’d gotten it wrong. Source: EW.

Verdict: Theveßen’s “he said gays must be stoned” is an overstatement. But Kirk’s approving language around that Leviticus verse is real and inflammatory.

Race, quotas, and a “Black pilot”

Two more controversial lines—one overstated on TV, the other not overstated at all.

• “Be afraid with a Black pilot.” Theveßen summarized Kirk as saying you must be afraid if the pilot is Black. Kirk’s on‑air words in Jan. 2024 were: “If I see a Black pilot, I’m going to be like, ‘Boy, I hope he’s qualified’.” That’s racially prejudicial, but not the exact “you must be afraid” phrasing. Source: Newsweek.
• Affirmative action. In July 2023, Kirk said certain prominent Black women “had to steal a white person’s spot” and lacked the “brain processing power” to be taken seriously. That lines up with Theveßen’s claim that Kirk said Black people take positions from Whites—and the real quote is even harsher. Source: Mediaite.

Verdict:

• Black pilot line: Theveßen exaggerated the wording.
• “Stealing a white person’s spot”: Kirk said it on tape.

Abortion, guns, and Ukraine: Hardline stances that check out

• Abortion vs. Holocaust: Kirk repeatedly compared abortion to the Holocaust, sometimes calling it “worse.” Source: ABC News (Australia).
• Gun deaths “worth it”: Kirk said preserving the Second Amendment is “worth … some gun deaths every single year.” Source: Newsweek.
• Zelensky “puppet”: He repeatedly called Ukraine’s president a “puppet,” including of U.S. intelligence. Source: Human Events.

What both sides got right—and wrong

• The TV segment: Theveßen’s larger point—that Kirk made racist and minority‑hostile statements—has support. But he overstated two items: “stone gays” and “be afraid with a Black pilot.”
• The defense article: Correct to flag those overstatements. But it wrongly claims there’s no explicit “women must submit” quote. There is.
• The context note: The article says ZDF told BILD it should have been clearer about context and that Theveßen regrets not explaining more. That wording appears only in BILD; we couldn’t find an independent confirmation. Source: BILD.
• “1950s vs. today” happiness claim: The article says Kirk argued women today are unhappier than in the 1950s. We found many Kirk segments attacking modern feminism and claiming liberal women are miserable or “not in their prime,” but not a reliable source for that specific 1950s comparison. Source on broader claims: Mediaite.

The tragedy in the background

It’s also true—and well documented—that Charlie Kirk was shot and killed on September 10, 2025, at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University. Investigations are ongoing. Sources: Washington Post, Time.
His political profile—staunchly conservative, closely allied with Trump, and increasingly framed in Christian‑national terms—is also well established. Source: NPR.

What we verified vs. what needs more evidence

Verified as accurate:

• Kirk’s abortion‑Holocaust comparison. ABC
• “Gun deaths worth it” Second Amendment line. Newsweek
• “Zelensky is a puppet” framing. Human Events
• “Submit to your husband” quote. Media Matters
• “Steal a white person’s spot”/“brain processing power” rant. Mediaite
• Stephen King retraction/apology. EW
• “Black pilot—hope he’s qualified” line. Newsweek

Needs caution or more documentation:

• ZDF’s reported post‑show statement to BILD about “context should have been clearer.” Right now it only appears in BILD; no second source. BILD
• A full, official transcript of the Lanz episode to nail exact phrasing. The program page exists, but no full transcript is posted yet. ZDF
• The specific “women are unhappier than in the 1950s” line remains unconfirmed.

How we checked

• We matched each disputed claim to audio/video or credible reporting, prioritizing direct quotes and primary clips.
• Where the TV summary (“he said X”) overshot the literal quote, we flagged it—but we also noted when Kirk’s own phrasing carried the same meaning or worse.
• We label any single‑source claims (like BILD’s reported ZDF statement) as such until corroborated.

Bottom line

• True and documented: abortion‑Holocaust comparisons; “gun deaths worth it”; calling Zelensky a “puppet”; attacks on affirmative action including “steal a white person’s spot”; telling women to “submit.”
• Overstated on TV: “he said gays must be stoned”; “you must be afraid with a Black pilot.” The real quotes are different—still inflammatory, but not what was claimed word‑for‑word.
• Unclear or single‑sourced: ZDF’s post‑show mea culpa via BILD; the 1950s‑happiness line.

In other words: the loudest headline was partly wrong—but the record isn’t kind to Kirk either. When you strip away the spin, his own words are stark enough.