Senator Payman Criticised for Video Comments on Charlie Kirk’s Death

Several Australians have been in the spotlight for their response to Kirk’s murder.

Labor Senator Fatima Payman speaks to the media after crossing the floor on a motion moved by the Australian Greens to recognise the State of Palestine at Parliament House in Canberra, on June 25, 2024. Lukas Coch/AAP

Several conservative-leaning MPs have shared a video of West Australian Senator Fatima Payman quipping and smiling while discussing the death of Charlie Kirk on a TikTok live stream.

Payman’s video has started to go viral in the short time since it came to light, with thousands of views, shares and comments across multiple platforms.

In the video, Payman responds to a comment before stating: “Yeah, Charlie Kirk got shot and he’s R-I-P.”

“Whatever you want R-I-P to stand for? Some people would say it’s not peace, so fill in the blanks people, fill in the blanks,” Payman said while smiling.

Senator Pauline Hanson was one identity who took to social media on Sept. 17—along with Senator Ralph Babet—to share the footage, condemning the video.

“Fatima Payman mocking the death of Charlie Kirk isn’t just vile, it’s revealing,” she wrote in the comments

“When the mask slips, this is what the left shows us: no compassion, no decency, only contempt.

“And yet they lecture the rest of us about unity and respect. Remember this moment the next time anyone from the left starts lecturing from atop their moral high horse.”

Payman’s Office Responds

A spokesman for Payman’s office told The Epoch Times the senator condemned all forms of political violence.

“The senator extends her sympathies to Charlie Kirk’s young family. For them, this is a terrible tragedy, and they deserve compassion in their grief.

“At the same time, the senator also condemns hate speech and reserves the right to speak out against it.”

The spokesman said Payman had noted that since Kirk’s death, there had been a “wave of commentary revisiting his statements and public positions.”

“The senator will not engage in attempts to recast or glorify Mr. Kirk’s record,” he said.

“Her focus remains on condemning violence, supporting victims of hate speech, and standing for respectful, democratic debate.”

Conservative commentator and author Kirk was assassinated on Sept. 10 while giving a talk at a university in Utah.

A suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was arrested.

Several Australians have faced scrutiny for their response to Kirk’s death.

On Sept. 14, teal independent MP Zali Steggall denied she condoned violence after her social media account was seen “liking” a post by Cheek Media co-founder Hannah Ferguson.

The post read: “Am I happy that someone shot him in the neck in broad daylight? No, but also, is violence sometimes necessary? Yes.”

In response, Steggall later wrote, “Whilst I respect Hannah from Cheek Media for trying to have a discussion about the conflicting realities occurring in the U.S., I originally liked her post because it is important to understand and discuss the dangerous polarisation occurring online due to the algorithms and click bait media.”