Overview

• The Panthers parted ways with football communications coordinator Charlie Rock after his Instagram story about Charlie Kirk read, “Why are yall sad? Your man said it was worth it,” alongside the Wu-Tang Clan track “Protect Ya Neck.”
• In a statement on X, the team said employee views are their own, stressed that it does not condone violence, and noted it had addressed the matter with the individual.
• Rock had interned with Carolina’s communications department in 2024 and was recently promoted to a full-time role, according to multiple reports and his LinkedIn profile.
• Other outlets took similar action over reactions to Kirk’s killing, with MSNBC firing analyst Matthew Dowd and PHNX Sports parting ways with Suns writer Gerald Bourguet.
• Kirk, 31, was shot in the neck at Utah Valley University; investigators recovered a rifle, said they have strong video of the shooter, believe the suspect is of college age, and report the gunman remains at large.