Mitchell Robinson On Backlash Over Reaction To Charlie Kirk’s Death: “I Don’t Care If You Black, White, Green, Or Have Stripes Like A Damn Zebra”

Knicks center Mitchell Robinson isn't backing down after expressing sympathy for Charlie Kick's surviving family.

3 Min Read

Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk lost his life on Wednesday after he was shot at during a political appearance at Utah Valley University. New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson was among those from the NBA who had publicly reacted to the news, and he expressed sympathy for Kirk’s surviving family on Instagram.

“I feel bad for his family.”

That act seemingly didn’t go down well with some, considering Kirk’s controversial views, but Robinson made it clear on Facebook that he stands by what he said.

“I’m never the type to get into the political field, but I just don’t get how people get so sensitive and offended about someone else’s opinion or beliefs,” Robinson said. “Like I respect your mindset and beliefs, but it’s not gone change what I believe and stand for. You don’t have to like me.

“You can unfollow, unfriend me, whatever you have to do to never see what I do or say,” Robinson continued. “I could care less about what you do or think of me! I don’t care if you black, white, green, or have stripes like a damn zebra, or even like the same gender. I respect you either way!

“As a father myself, no kid should have to grow up without [their] father or mother at the end of the day,” Robinson added. “I don’t do the things I do for attention or clout…again I could care less what people think of me…the ones that know me already know what I stand for!”

Kirk married former Miss Arizona Erika Frantzve on May 8, 2021. They welcomed a daughter in August 2022 and a son in May 2024. It was reported that Erika and the two children were on campus when the 31-year-old was shot, but that hasn’t been confirmed yet. 

Whatever one may think of Kirk the individual, you cannot criticize Robinson or anyone else for sympathizing with his surviving family’s plight. The two children are going to grow up without their father, and that’s heartbreaking. 

Robinson, who averaged 5.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game in 2024-25, has a daughter named Riley, who was born in 2023. That makes the 27-year-old’s reaction all the more understandable, and it’s just a shame that some backlash came his way for it.

As mentioned earlier, Robinson isn’t the only one from the basketball world to have reacted to the shooting. Michael Porter Jr., Dwight Howard, and Patrick Beverley were all stunned by the incident in Utah.

U.S. President Donald Trump earlier stated that the shooter had been caught. The suspect is reportedly a 22-year-old from Washington, Utah, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation.

Newsletter

Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles

Follow on Google News

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

Share This Article
Follow:
Gautam Varier is a staff writer and columnist for Fadeaway World from Mumbai, India. He graduated from Symbiosis International University with a Master of Business specializing in Sports Management in 2020. This educational achievement enables Gautam to apply sophisticated analytical techniques to his incisive coverage of basketball, blending business acumen with sports knowledge.Before joining Fadeaway World in 2022, Gautam honed his journalistic skills at Sportskeeda and SportsKPI, where he covered a range of sports topics with an emphasis on basketball. His passion for the sport was ignited after witnessing the high-octane offense of the Steve Nash-led Phoenix Suns. Among the Suns, Shawn Marion stood out to Gautam as an all-time underrated NBA player. Marion’s versatility as a defender and his rebounding prowess, despite being just 6’7”, impressed Gautam immensely. He admired Marion’s finishing ability at the rim and his shooting, despite an unconventional jump shot, believing that Marion’s skill set would have been even more appreciated in today’s NBA.This transformative experience not only deepened his love for basketball but also shaped his approach to sports writing, enabling him to connect with readers through vivid storytelling and insightful analysis.
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *