Charlie Kirk's assassination was one of the biggest stories of 2025, and it's since inspired many dark and controversial memes, which are still going viral in 2026.

One of the latest trends to come from the tragic event is an outfit transition trend set to the audio of Charlie Kirk's last words, "Counting or not counting gun violence," followed by the crack of the shot that ultimately killed him.

Now, some social media users are calling out the trend and criticizing those who participate in it. Here's what you need to know.

@freddiechen

say goodbye to the pink hair 💔

♬ Counting or not counting Klrk violence Great – 🌀💋꩜ ProfessionalGooner ꩜🌀💋

What Is The 'Counting Or Not Counting Gang Violence' Meme?

Charlie Kirk was assassinated on September 10th, 2025, while speaking at Utah Valley University. His last words, spoken as a response to a question from a debater, were, "Counting or not counting gang violence?"

The video of Kirk's assassination went viral almost immediately after the incident took place, spreading far across social media.

Some people, including ironic trolls and those less sympathetic to Kirk's death because of his politics or worldview, started making memes out of the event, which have proved highly contentious.

This includes the audio of Kirk's last words, followed by the sound of the gunshot.

@rachhh.ell im so funny #hairtransition #alt #calicohair #countingornotcountinggangviolenve ♬ Counting or not counting Klrk violence Great – 🌀💋꩜ ProfessionalGooner ꩜🌀💋

How Is 'Counting Or Not Counting Gang Violence' Used In Memes?

Some of the earliest memes to use the audio of Charlie Kirk's final words and the shot were uploaded to TikTok in November 2025, including skits where users pretend to catch the bullet before it hits them.

Other videos turn the audio into a transition trend, where the sound of the shot is used as the cue for a transition. These transitions mostly include outfits and hairstyles, and also started popping up in November 2025, but have become more prevalent throughout early 2026.

@uhhlice

Counting or not counting a bleach and tone

♬ Counting or not counting Klrk violence Great – 🌀💋꩜ ProfessionalGooner ꩜🌀💋

Why Are People Mad About The 'Charlie Kirk Transition' Trend?

In April 2026, some social media users who are sympathetic to Charlie Kirk's assassination started reposting and criticizing videos of people making transition videos to Kirk's last words.

One critic is Brian Atlas, the host of the Whatever Podcast, a controversial dating show where its hosts often spread traditional, conservative viewpoints on dating and culture.

He shared a clip of some girls transitioning from their regular outfits to prom dresses, writing, "Women post video using Charlie Kirk assassination sounds for outfit transition… this is gross. The 'empathy' side btw," assuming the women in the video would support having empathy, and calling them hypocritical for showing none to Kirk.

Women post video using Charlie Kirk assassination sounds for outfit transition… this is gross. The “empathy” side btw. pic.twitter.com/zC0ZWiP0J6

— Brian Atlas (@BrianAtlas) April 30, 2026

The prom dress video, and similar transition videos, are now being shared by other critical social media users on sites like TikTok and X / Twitter.

Most of these critics are expressing how disturbing they find the trend, particularly for the lack of empathy towards Kirk and his family, which arguably shows.

Asmongold reacts to the viral TIKTOK trend where teenagers make “prom outfit transition” videos using audio from the moment Charlie Kirk is shot. pic.twitter.com/uKvwOpgjIp

— Blake S. Taylor Investigations 🚫 (@YoungGun8140) May 5, 2026

What Are Some More 'Charlie Kirk Assassination Audio' Memes?

@pepsimasc #charliekirk ♬ Counting or not counting Klrk violence Great – 🌀💋꩜ ProfessionalGooner ꩜🌀💋

@niko.horse #lps #charliekirk #littlestpetshop #fyp ♬ Counting or not counting Klrk violence Great – 🌀💋꩜ ProfessionalGooner ꩜🌀💋

@ripesharwarmareams

♬ Counting or not counting Klrk violence Great – 🌀💋꩜ ProfessionalGooner ꩜🌀💋

@patrioticpeach

Empathy that ONLY applies to your side isn’t empathy

♬ original sound – Patriotic Peach

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For the full history of Charlie Kirk's Last Words, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.