Charlie Kirk makes a brief but unexpected posthumous appearance in a new documentary released only nine days after his assassination.
The late conservative activist, who was shot dead while speaking at Utah Valley University on September 10, is seen in In Whose Name? sitting in on a 2018 discussion with Kanye West and Candace Owens about politics and culture.
The film, largely shot on iPhone by first-time director Nico Ballesteros, tracks West’s turbulent career over six years as he moved deeper into controversy and conspiracy. During this period, he met with Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, and Owens, then the group’s communications director. Kirk remains mostly silent in the footage while West and Owens exchange views on their experiences as Black public figures.
Released on September 19, the documentary gained further attention because of Kirk’s killing, which prosecutors have described as a politically motivated assassination. Police arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who faces the possibility of the death penalty if convicted.
Reflecting on the documentary, Ballesteros said:
«It’s unfortunate, and may they rest in peace, but there are people in the film who are no longer here with us.»
