An Unlikely Villain
Belfast Books Bans Stephen King's Books Over False Charlie Kirk Claim
An Ireland-based online bookseller, Belfast Books, has announced it has removed all of Stephen King's titles from its website in protest of the author's false and abhorrent" social media comments about slain conservative pundit Charlie Kirk.
In a bold stand against misinformation, Belfast Books, an Ireland-based online retailer, has removed all of Stephen King's books from its website, becoming the first major bookseller to punish the horror author for his false accusation against slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk hours after Kirk's assassination.
The decision follows King's now-deleted X post on September 10, 2025, where he claimed Kirk "advocated stoning gays to death," responding to Fox News host Jesse Watters' praise of the 31-year-old Turning Point USA founder as a "patriot." King, with over 7.5 million followers, shared the unverified claim without fact-checking, sparking immediate outrage.
Kirk was fatally shot that day at a campus event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, by 22-year-old suspect Tyler Robinson, who was arrested after a manhunt. Robinson faces first-degree murder charges, with authorities probing ideological motives tied to Kirk's conservative activism on issues like Israel, transgender ideology, and campus free speech.
The internet was not impressed with King's comments. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) labeled King "a horrible, evil, twisted liar" on X, while Elon Musk replied to King's post calling him a "liar." Conservatives, including Kirk's widow Erika Frantzve and Turning Point USA, decried the smear as exacerbating threats against right-wing figures.
Belfast Books announced the ban on X, stating: “We thought so much more of you @StephenKing, and even though this may harm us financially, we’re removing all your books from our website. An absolutely abhorrent and ill-informed comment in the first instance that an inchoate apology doesn’t begin to cover. Go further.”
The store rejected King's apologies as inadequate. In a follow-up post, King wrote: “I apologize for saying Charlie Kirk advocated stoning gays to death. What he actually demonstrated was how some people cherry-pick Biblical passages.” Belfast Books fired back: “It was far from a fulsome apology, and if Mr King was truly remorseful, he should donate some money to a US charity that supports victims and families of gun violence.”
King's claim stemmed from a 2024 clip where Kirk quoted Leviticus 18:22, calling homosexuality an abomination, while critiquing YouTuber Ms. Rachel's use of "love thy neighbor" to support Pride Month. Kirk did not call for violence or stoning; he emphasized biblical interpretation without endorsing harm. Fact-checks from outlets like The Daily Wire confirmed the misrepresentation.
Belfast Books, known for its independent stance and focus on diverse literature, emphasized ethical principles over profit. No response from King's team or publishers like Scribner was available.