In the aftermath of the assassination of Charlie Kirk on Wednesday, Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth was among thousands of people who left a comment on an Instagram post from the young conservative commentator, to put their thoughts and feelings about his death into words.

“I’m. So. Upset. Didn’t always agree but appreciated some perspectives,” Chenoweth wrote, according to screenshots circulating widely on social media. “What a heartbreak. His young family. I know where he is now. Heaven. But still,” she added, including a red broken heart emoji.

Some fans of Kristen Chenoweth threatened to boycott her upcoming Broadway musical.Credit: John Russo

Some of Chenoweth’s fans were surprised to see this response from the Tony Award winner, who had urged her followers to vote for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election and has a large fan base among the LGBTQ community for her starring roles in musicals such as Wicked.

In the comments section of Chenoweth’s own Instagram, social media users criticised the actor for praising Kirk, who had a history of making disparaging remarks about gay, black and Jewish people, among others. Some Chenoweth fans threatened to boycott her upcoming Broadway musical, The Queen of Versailles, while others made dark jokes referring to the song No One Mourns the Wicked, the opening number Chenoweth sang as Glinda on Broadway.

In our internet age, online spaces are where many people go to process tense national moments. They are also where others go to pick apart one another’s reactions, assessing them for moral and political correctness. That dynamic has been amplified by the death of Kirk, who was beloved by many on the right for his socially conservative views and his speaking........

© The Age