"I felt my intentions were misunderstood" - Choi Siwon addresses Charlie Kirk tribute post backlash amidst fan calls for departure from Super Junior

Super Junior’s Choi Siwon responded to criticism over his online tribute to Charlie Kirk, the American conservative activist who was recently killed. On September 12, 2025 Choi addressed the issue on the fan platform Bubble.

He explained that his intention was to express sympathy over a life lost to gun violence. Choi Siwon wrote,

"I am grateful for the media's attention after posting, but I felt my intentions were misinterpreted. I judged that my insufficient heartfelt message had been conveyed and took down the post. However, as there is still significant interest, I would like to explain myself."

He said that regardless of political differences, he found the circumstances of his death tragic.

"There has been much discussion regarding my post about Charles Kirk, so I would like to clarify. He was a Christian, the head of a family, and a husband. Regardless of the circumstances, the tragic loss of life from a shooting during a lecture in front of many students is deeply heartbreaking, regardless of political stance. That is why I paid my respects." He shared.

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Super Junior's Choi Siwon faces backlash over tribute to Charlie Kirk

Kirk was the founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent figure in U.S. president Donald Trump’s re-election campaign. He was fatally shot on September 10 during a university debate event in Utah.

On September 11, Choi Siwon posted a memorial on Instagram. He shared a family photo of Kirk with the caption, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” He also uploaded a photo of Kirk with the text, “REST IN PEACE CHARLIE KIRK.” The posts included content from pastor John Bevere and the Christian community Bible Alive.

The tribute drew sharp reactions from netizens. Critics pointed to Kirk’s history of racially charged and misogynistic remarks. Netizens soon started demanding Choi’s removal from the group Super Junior.

Choi, a practicing Christian, has previously faced scrutiny for his social media activity. He once liked a post opposing Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests. He also shared content against same-sex marriage. Both incidents led to public backlash and apologies. Choi has not declared support for any political party.

Choi Siwon has not publicly ever declared support for any political party. He appeared on the variety show Knowing Bros just 2 months earlier. At the time, he emphasized that he had no interest in politics.

Others joked about him becoming the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism or collecting election songs. However, he stressed he had no political ambitions and was focused only on group activities.

In response to the current backlash, Choi shared with South Korean media outlet OSEN that he was not personally affected by the criticism. He asked that prayers be offered for those who opposed him. He described this as part of his Christian faith. After that, he refrained from additional comments and has only shared Bible passages online.

Meanwhile, social media is seeing the rise of accounts calling for his exit from Super Junior. X is being flooded with international fans spreading hashtags such as “#SIWON_OUT.”

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In the midst of the controversy, reports surfaced that Super Junior members Leeteuk and Yesung had removed Choi Siwon from their Instagram follow lists.

Edited by Adrija Chakraborty