The Global Story The dark memes behind Charlie Kirk’s murder
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Sep 16, 2025 Marianna Spring, BBC's Social Media investigations correspondent, dives deep into the chilling assassination of Charlie Kirk. She unpacks the mysterious inscriptions on the murder's bullet casings, linking them to radical online subcultures and the complexities of political ideology. The conversation reveals how social media amplifies violent sentiments and the resurgence of historical symbols like 'Bella Ciao' as contemporary cultural touchstones. Spring expertly navigates the dark motivations fueling online discourse, highlighting the profound impact of memes and trolling.
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Engravings Spark Public Speculation
- Engraved bullet casings introduced coded messages that drove media and public speculation about motive.
- The inscriptions pushed investigators and commentators to seek meaning in fringe internet culture references.
Furry Meme Reference Explained
- The phrase "notices bulges oh whoa" links to furry-community emoticons and flirting language.
- This signals the shooter likely spent time in niche online subcultures rather than proving a clear political motive.
Dual Meaning Of 'Hey Fascist'
- "Hey fascist" plus arrow symbols can be read politically or as a gaming command from Hell Divers 2.
- The dual meanings show how fringe memes purposely blur ideological signals to create ambiguity.