Author Stephen King apologized Friday for a now-deleted social media post in which he claimed that assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk advocated "stoning gays to death."
"He advocated stoning gays to death. Just sayin'," King posted to X Thursday.
Following fierce backlash online, King deleted the post and apologized.
"I apologize for saying Charlie Kirk advocated stoning gays. What he actually demonstrated was how some people cherry-pick Biblical passages," he wrote.
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"I was wrong, and I apologize. I have deleted the post," he later stated on X. He also responded to others criticizing him.
Kirk, a 31-year-old father of two, was shot and killed during a campus event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.
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The Turning Point USA founder was struck in the neck as he spoke to a large crowd from under a white pop-up tent. He was rushed to a hospital and pronounced dead Wednesday afternoon.
Tyler Robinson, 22, has been identified as the suspect in the killing.
Social media users were quick to call out King for his now-deleted post, including Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, who suggested that Kirk's estate sue the author.
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"Please share if you agree that the estate of Charlie Kirk should sue Stephen King for defamation over this heinously false accusation," Lee wrote on X Thursday. "He's crossed a line. It will prove costly."
Kirk's death has been met with widespread mourning and outrage. President Donald Trump, who counted Kirk as a friend and close political ally, called him a patriot and a man of deep faith.
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"He was such a great guy that he had to end this way," Trump said Friday on "Fox & Friends." "But, you know, in many ways, he's bigger now because of what happened."
Fox News Digital has reached out to King for comment.
