Celebrations and apparent Charlie Kirk “look-alike contests” are popping up on college campuses across the country on the first anniversary of the conservative activist’s assassination with anonymous posts and flyers advertising events tied to Georgetown University, the University of South Carolina, the University of Maine and New York University, among others.
The latest apparent event surfaced in NYU’s Yik Yak community, where an anonymous user posted an image of a flyer advertising a “KIRKAVERSARY C. KIRK LOOKALIKE CONTEST” at “WSQ Park” at 10 p.m. Sept. 10, offering a $5 prize and instructing attendees to “BYOB.”
The NYU post followed similar apparent contests advertised through anonymous campus social media platforms at Georgetown in Washington, D.C., and the University of South Carolina, turning what initially appeared to be an isolated controversy into a broader phenomenon surrounding the anniversary of Kirk’s killing.
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Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was assassinated Sept. 10, 2025, while speaking at Utah Valley University during his American Comeback Tour.
Students at Georgetown University allegedly planned a Kirk “lookalike contest” for the anniversary of the conservative activist’s assassination, and the event drew thousands of upvotes on Fizz, an anonymous social media platform popular with Georgetown students, according to screenshots shared with Fox News Digital from the school’s Turning Point USA chapter.
Similarly, an apparent Kirk look-alike contest called “Kirkiversary” is being advertised at the University of South Carolina for Thursday.
The screenshot featured an anonymous Yik Yak post circulating on social media advertising a “Charlie Kirk look-alike contest” on Greene Street outside USC’s Russell House at 7 p.m., offering a $50 prize and telling prospective participants, “Be there or be square.”
The University of South Carolina replied to the Libs of TikTok post saying, “We have no record of any registered student organization planning such an event. No university resources will be used to support this. DM us if you’d like a contact here that can help verify claims like this ahead of posting.”
Georgetown also told Fox News Digital it was not tied to the event, saying, “We have seen no activity on campus related to these posts. Georgetown is not planning such an event and, to our knowledge, no student organization is hosting or planning such an event.”
Other schools appear to be celebrating Kirk’s death with images circulating on social media and shared by Libs of TikTok that appear to show flyers mocking Charlie Kirk’s death posted at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The flyers include an image of Kirk and the words “REST IN PISS FOREVER MISS” and “THE MASTERBAITER.” A social media post circulating the images also claims that additional flyers have been posted around campus and that events celebrating Kirk’s death are being planned.
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville also condemned messages that celebrate political violence after mysterious “Kirkaversery” [sic] flyers advertised a gathering apparently marking one year since Charlie Kirk’s assassination, declaring, “WE WILL CELEBRATE THE FIRST NEW YEAR AK (AFTER KIRK).”
At Rochester Institute of Technology, flyers circulating online by Libs of TikTok appeared to advertise a “CHARLIE KIRK LOOKALIKE COMPETITION” at the Kate Gleason dorm quad on Sept. 10 at 1 p.m., with a prize listed as “$10 + FAME + TROPHY.” The flyer did specify that the look-alike contest was not affiliated with RIT.
A second flyer advertises a “Twerk for Kirk” competition with a $10 entry fee and monetary prizes.
Libs of TikTok also shared screenshots of a series of posts appearing in the University of Maine’s Yik Yak community on the first anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
Screenshots circulating online showed multiple anonymous posts using the term “Kirkiversary” and apparently mocking Kirk’s death and the manner in which he was killed. Among the posts visible in the screenshots are messages stating, “HAPPY KIRKIVERSARY!!!! TODAY IS A GREAT DAY!!!,” “Carotid arteries out for Charlie Kirk!” and “Woke up with a horrible pain in my neck,” accompanied by an image of a man experiencing neck pain.
Similarly, purported internal messages attributed to members of the UNC Charlotte university community discussing the anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s assassination were also shared on X by Libs of TikTok.
The messages, published on social media, appear to include individuals discussing how to celebrate the anniversary, joking about Kirk’s assassination and, in one instance, expressing hope that President Donald Trump would die.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Wiley Norvell, senior vice president for university relations and public affairs at NYU, said, “No recognized student group is organizing any such event, nor is one taking place in an NYU building or space. University resources would never be used in this way. We are reporting these posts for misusing NYU’s name. We strongly condemn any elevation of political violence.”
The University of Maine told Fox News Digital in a statement that the university “condemns violence, threats of violence and rhetoric that celebrates or makes light of violence in any form. The safety of our students, employees and visitors is a top priority. We take credible threats seriously, investigate them promptly and work with law enforcement and public safety partners when appropriate.
“The UMaine chapter of Turning Point USA held an event on campus Wednesday evening. The event was approved in advance and held in accordance with established university policies and procedures governing campus events. UMaine Police were present to support campus safety and security. The event concluded without incident, and the university received no threats of violence associated with the event, either before, during or after it.
“Yik Yak is an independent, third-party open and anonymous social media platform that is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by or administered by the University of Maine. The university does not operate or control the platform and does not have access to information identifying individuals behind anonymous posts. Any credible threat involving members of the university community or campus safety is taken seriously and addressed in accordance with university policies and established public safety procedures.”
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A UNC Charlotte spokesperson gave the following statement to Fox News Digital: “UNC Charlotte did not generate these messages. They were posted on Yik Yak, an anonymous third-party platform, and the university does not know who authored them. UNC Charlotte does not condone the posts. If the university receives credible information indicating that a member of our community has made a threat or violated university policy, we will review it and respond appropriately.”
A University of Nebraska-Lincoln spokesperson also addressed the controversy in comments to Fox News Digital.
“The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is aware of flyers that were taped to bus stops on campus that contained imagery of the late Charlie Kirk. There is no indication that anyone affiliated with the university is responsible for the creation and/or distribution of the flyers,” the spokesperson said.
“The university does not condone or support messages making light of violence or the loss of life. The safety and well-being of our students, faculty, staff and visitors are our highest priority. The university encourages anyone who becomes aware of an immediate safety concern to report it through UNL Report or by calling University Police.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Rochester Institute of Technology and Turning Point USA for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
