Katie Maloney commented on the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk by posting on Instagram Stories that "we do not celebrate death, but we also do not mourn monsters. Those two things can and do coexist." She clarified that the absence of mourning does not imply celebrating the death. Later, facing backlash, Katie released a statement apologizing for the timing and language of her comments, recognizing the tragedy of gun violence and expressing hope to be part of the solution for civil disagreement and reducing violence.
Her comments caused controversy, with some accusing her of mocking Kirk's death, while others defended her right to express her opinion. The backlash notably involved discussions on social media about civility and political beliefs connected to Kirk's assassination.