Congressional candidate defends ‘dark humor’ video about Kirk assassination

By Elyse Apel
The Center Square

A Michigan Democrat candidate for the U.S. House is doubling down after posting a video in the wake of the Charlie Kirk assassination stating: “Hey, MAGA. How bad does it hurt that Jimmy Kimmel is back but you guys can’t get your person back?”

Shelby Campbell, who is running for Michigan’s 13th District, posted the video to TikTok.

Since then, it went viral, with many calling for Campbell to drop out of the race. Instead, Campbell has doubled down in the last few days, acknowledging that it was her in the video.

“Yes it’s me,” she posted on X on Thursday. “It’s called dark humor.”

In the viral video, Campbell referred to “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” returning to the air after being suspended for a time for comments Kimmel made on his show following Kirk’s death.

Campbell has labeled herself the “grassroots” candidate in the race, running against Democrat incumbent Shri Thanedar. Thanedar was first elected in 2022.

A 31-year-old single mom, Campbell stated on her ActBlue fundraising site that her campaign is “by the people, for the people.”

“Now, I’m running for Congress in Michigan’s 13th District to put working families, not corporate donors, at the center of our democracy,” Campbell said. “My campaign is about community over corporations, compassion over cruelty, and people over profit.”

This was not the only video Campbell posted following Kirk’s assassination on Sept. 10. In an earlier TikTok video, posted the day after Kirk’s death, she said:

“I don’t think anyone deserves to be murdered in front of their wife and children, but, life happens. And when you support radical ideas and you say them out loud and they’re evil, bad things might happen to you.”

Campbell is not the only Michigander to receive backlash for statements regarding Kirk’s death.

Earlier this week, Newaygo Brewing Co. suspended its co-owner for stating on Facebook that Kirk was an “evil, hateful, racist, sexist, anti-Christian, actor that scammed money from low IQ people. AKA a Republican.”

A middle school teacher at Hopkins Public Schools has also been suspended for in-class comments, while another teacher in the Grand Ledge Public School District sparked controversy over social media comments. That teacher did not face any workplace repercussions.