Fact check: What were Charlie Kirk's original comments about empathy that sparked criticism?

1. Summary of the results

The original comments made by Charlie Kirk about empathy that sparked criticism were that he cannot stand the word empathy, thinking it is a made-up, new age term that does a lot of damage ^[1]. He also stated that he preferred sympathy over empathy, and believed empathy was very effective when it comes to politics ^[1]. These comments were made during an episode of The Charlie Kirk Show on October 12, 2022 ^{[1] [2]}. The sources confirm that Kirk's views on empathy were controversial and sparked criticism ^[1]. Some sources also discuss the concept of selective empathy and its relation to political discourse, particularly in the context of Kirk's death and the reactions of various individuals and groups ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Some sources do not directly address Charlie Kirk's original comments about empathy, but instead discuss the aftermath of his killing, including a coordinated online doxxing campaign targeting individuals who posted critical remarks about him ^[4]. Other sources provide context to Kirk's persona and influence, discussing his controversial views and the reactions to his death ^[3]. Additionally, some sources touch on the theme of empathy in political discourse, discussing the responses from Democrats and Republicans ^[5]. It is also worth noting that the sources do not provide a clear explanation of why Kirk's comments on empathy sparked criticism, or what specific damage he believed empathy does ^[1]. Furthermore, the sources do not provide alternative viewpoints on the concept of empathy, or discuss the potential benefits of empathy in a political context ^[3].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be biased towards presenting Charlie Kirk's views on empathy as controversial and damaging, without providing a balanced view of the concept of empathy ^[1]. The sources that confirm Kirk's comments on empathy may be seen as fact-checking his statements, but may also be perceived as criticizing his views ^[1]. On the other hand, the sources that discuss the concept of selective empathy and its relation to political discourse may be seen as providing context to Kirk's views, but may also be perceived as justifying or downplaying the controversy surrounding his comments ^[3]. The sources that benefit from this framing are those that aim to criticize Charlie Kirk's views on empathy, as well as those that seek to provide context to the controversy surrounding his comments ^{[1] [3]}.