September 20, 2025 • 3 mins
Stephen King Biography Flash a weekly Biography.
The past few days have been some of the most turbulent and significant for Stephen King in years and not in a way he’d likely want chronicled. In the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s tragic shooting, King jumped right into the fray on social media. Within hours of news breaking, he posted about the incident, emphasizing his long-held anti-gun stance and linking the tragedy to broader issues of gun violence. That alone would’ve grabbed headlines, but King took it much further. According to news recaps on sites like IMDb and coverage from Comic Basics, King then posted—and quickly deleted—a claim that Kirk “advocated stoning gays,” a false statement that immediately incited a storm of backlash. King, rarely one to retract, was compelled to issue a public apology, writing in a follow-up, “I apologize for saying Charlie Kirk advocated stoning gays. What he actually demonstrated was how some people cherry-pick Biblical passages.” He blamed his error on having read something uncritically on social media, a context that did little to quiet the outrage.
This firestorm has had immediate and concrete effects on King’s career and public reputation. Several major entertainment news commentators and outlets, including Forbes Breaking News and industry YouTubers, report that the backlash was so fierce it led to King being dropped from high-profile movie projects. Paramount reportedly canceled his planned cameo in The Running Man reboot, a move that cost him an estimated 5.5 million dollars. Similarly, Bloomhouse and Sony axed King’s cameo in the upcoming Christine remake, and HBO pulled his role in the Welcome to Derry series. These cancellations are confirmed to have happened almost simultaneously in the two days following his controversial posts and were motivated directly by the negative PR fallout. Some major theater chains, including AMC and Regal, also canceled scheduled promotions involving King for the new Lionsgate film The Long Walk, which itself debuted to disastrous box office numbers—a perfect storm of professional setbacks.
In the literary world, there’s growing anecdotal evidence that some bookstores and libraries are pulling King titles from their shelves, further jeopardizing his sales and long-term standing. Meanwhile, King has been largely absent from public appearances, apart from this apology tour, and fan commentary online swings between outrage, fatigue, and satirical speculation about whether these events will inspire a future novel.
Elsewhere in King-related cultural news, fans are gearing up for the Adams State Theatre’s stage adaptation of Misery, opening September 26, and fans on Threads are preparing tributes for King’s birthday on September 21.
Thanks for listening to this Stephen King Biography Flash. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an update on King, and remember to search “Biography Flash” for more deep dive biographies just like this.
Get the best deals https://amzn.to/4mMClBv
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
The past few days have been some of the most turbulent and significant for Stephen King in years and not in a way he’d likely want chronicled. In the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s tragic shooting, King jumped right into the fray on social media. Within hours of news breaking, he posted about the incident, emphasizing his long-held anti-gun stance and linking the tragedy to broader issues of gun violence. That alone would’ve grabbed headlines, but King took it much further. According to news recaps on sites like IMDb and coverage from Comic Basics, King then posted—and quickly deleted—a claim that Kirk “advocated stoning gays,” a false statement that immediately incited a storm of backlash. King, rarely one to retract, was compelled to issue a public apology, writing in a follow-up, “I apologize for saying Charlie Kirk advocated stoning gays. What he actually demonstrated was how some people cherry-pick Biblical passages.” He blamed his error on having read something uncritically on social media, a context that did little to quiet the outrage.
This firestorm has had immediate and concrete effects on King’s career and public reputation. Several major entertainment news commentators and outlets, including Forbes Breaking News and industry YouTubers, report that the backlash was so fierce it led to King being dropped from high-profile movie projects. Paramount reportedly canceled his planned cameo in The Running Man reboot, a move that cost him an estimated 5.5 million dollars. Similarly, Bloomhouse and Sony axed King’s cameo in the upcoming Christine remake, and HBO pulled his role in the Welcome to Derry series. These cancellations are confirmed to have happened almost simultaneously in the two days following his controversial posts and were motivated directly by the negative PR fallout. Some major theater chains, including AMC and Regal, also canceled scheduled promotions involving King for the new Lionsgate film The Long Walk, which itself debuted to disastrous box office numbers—a perfect storm of professional setbacks.
In the literary world, there’s growing anecdotal evidence that some bookstores and libraries are pulling King titles from their shelves, further jeopardizing his sales and long-term standing. Meanwhile, King has been largely absent from public appearances, apart from this apology tour, and fan commentary online swings between outrage, fatigue, and satirical speculation about whether these events will inspire a future novel.
Elsewhere in King-related cultural news, fans are gearing up for the Adams State Theatre’s stage adaptation of Misery, opening September 26, and fans on Threads are preparing tributes for King’s birthday on September 21.
Thanks for listening to this Stephen King Biography Flash. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an update on King, and remember to search “Biography Flash” for more deep dive biographies just like this.
Get the best deals https://amzn.to/4mMClBv
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
The past few days have been some of the most
turbulent and significant for Stephen King in years, and not
in a way he'd likely want chronicled. In the wake
of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's tragic shooting, King jumped right
into the fray on social media. Within hours of news breaking,
he posted about the incident, emphasizing his long held anti
(00:30):
gun stance and linking the tragedy to broader issues of
gun violence. That alone would have grabbed headlines, but King
took it much further. According to news recaps on sites
like IMDb and coverage from Comic Basics, King then posted
and quickly deleted a claim that Kirk advocated stony gaze,
a false statement that immediately incited a storm of backlash. King,
(00:54):
rarely one to retract, was compelled to issue a public apology,
writing in a follow up, I apologize for saying Charlie
Kirk advocated stoning gaze. What he actually demonstrated was how
some people cherrypick biblical passages. He blamed his error on
having read something uncritically on social media, a context that
did little to quiet the outrage. This firestorm has had
(01:17):
immediate and concrete effects on King's career in public reputation.
Several major entertainment news commentators and outlets, including Forbeses, Breaking News,
and industry YouTubers, report that the backlash was so fierce
it led to King being dropped from high profile movie projects.
Paramount reportedly canceled his planned cameo in the Running Man reboot,
(01:38):
a move that cost him and estimated five point five
million dollars. Similarly, Bloomhouse and Sony axed King's cameo in
the upcoming Christine remake, and HBO pulled his role in
the Welcome to Dairy series. These cancelations are confirmed to
have happened almost simultaneously in the two days following his
controversial posts, and were motivated directly by the negative pr fallout.
(02:00):
Some major theatre chains, including AMC and Regal, also canceled
scheduled promotions involving King for the new Lionsgate filmed The
Long Walk, which it self debuted to disastrous box office numbers.
A perfect storm of professional setbacks. In the literary world,
there's growing anecdotal evidence that some bookstores and libraries are
pulling King titles from their shelves, further jeopardizing his sales.
(02:24):
And long term standing. Meanwhile, King has been largely absent
from public appearances apart from this apology tour and fan commentary.
Online swings between outrage, fatigue and satirical speculation about whether
these events will inspire a future novel. Elsewhere in King
related cultural news, fans are gearing up for the Adams
(02:46):
State Theatre's stage adaptation of Misery, opening September twenty sixth,
and fans on threads are preparing tributes for King's bar.
Instagram a page full tap taps, cutters, taps. Thanks for
listening to this Stephen King Biography Flash. Don't forget to
subscribe so you never miss an update on King and
remember to search Biography Flash for more deep dive biographies
(03:09):
just like this. And that is it for today. Make
sure you hit the subscribe button and never miss an
update on Stephen King. Thanks for listening. This has been
a quiet please production quiet, Please dot ai hear what
matters
The past few days have been some of the most
turbulent and significant for Stephen King in years, and not
in a way he'd likely want chronicled. In the wake
of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's tragic shooting, King jumped right
into the fray on social media. Within hours of news breaking,
he posted about the incident, emphasizing his long held anti
(00:30):
gun stance and linking the tragedy to broader issues of
gun violence. That alone would have grabbed headlines, but King
took it much further. According to news recaps on sites
like IMDb and coverage from Comic Basics, King then posted
and quickly deleted a claim that Kirk advocated stony gaze,
a false statement that immediately incited a storm of backlash. King,
(00:54):
rarely one to retract, was compelled to issue a public apology,
writing in a follow up, I apologize for saying Charlie
Kirk advocated stoning gaze. What he actually demonstrated was how
some people cherrypick biblical passages. He blamed his error on
having read something uncritically on social media, a context that
did little to quiet the outrage. This firestorm has had
(01:17):
immediate and concrete effects on King's career in public reputation.
Several major entertainment news commentators and outlets, including Forbeses, Breaking News,
and industry YouTubers, report that the backlash was so fierce
it led to King being dropped from high profile movie projects.
Paramount reportedly canceled his planned cameo in the Running Man reboot,
(01:38):
a move that cost him and estimated five point five
million dollars. Similarly, Bloomhouse and Sony axed King's cameo in
the upcoming Christine remake, and HBO pulled his role in
the Welcome to Dairy series. These cancelations are confirmed to
have happened almost simultaneously in the two days following his
controversial posts, and were motivated directly by the negative pr fallout.
(02:00):
Some major theatre chains, including AMC and Regal, also canceled
scheduled promotions involving King for the new Lionsgate filmed The
Long Walk, which it self debuted to disastrous box office numbers.
A perfect storm of professional setbacks. In the literary world,
there's growing anecdotal evidence that some bookstores and libraries are
pulling King titles from their shelves, further jeopardizing his sales.
(02:24):
And long term standing. Meanwhile, King has been largely absent
from public appearances apart from this apology tour and fan commentary.
Online swings between outrage, fatigue and satirical speculation about whether
these events will inspire a future novel. Elsewhere in King
related cultural news, fans are gearing up for the Adams
(02:46):
State Theatre's stage adaptation of Misery, opening September twenty sixth,
and fans on threads are preparing tributes for King's bar.
Instagram a page full tap taps, cutters, taps. Thanks for
listening to this Stephen King Biography Flash. Don't forget to
subscribe so you never miss an update on King and
remember to search Biography Flash for more deep dive biographies
(03:09):
just like this. And that is it for today. Make
sure you hit the subscribe button and never miss an
update on Stephen King. Thanks for listening. This has been
a quiet please production quiet, Please dot ai hear what
matters
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