In September, the influential right-wing voice Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University on his “The America Comeback Tour.” Some conservatives warned that this act would result in an entire generation of Charlie Kirks determined to keep his message alive. It already seems as if they were right, although not in the way that they predicted. Recently, a small but growing online movement has marshaled AI tools to graft Kirk’s face onto rappers, rock stars, political figures—seemingly anyone they can think of, the more appalling the better. The former head of Turning Point USA has been crudely transformed into Fakemink, Adolf Hitler, Anne Frank, Playboi Carti in the “Cancun” video from 2019, and a furry with a bear costume. Kirk has revealed himself as the secret fifth member of The Smiths; he’s buff, he’s obese, he’s a pornstar, he’s XXXTentacion and Jeffrey Epstein. He’s Rod Wave after the rapper was arrested on weapon and drug charges in Fulton County. Kirk has become an infinitely malleable avatar and source of memes and mockery for people who hate him.
