Kristin Chenoweth is experiencing "a profound moment of human introspection" in the wake of her reaction to the tragic death of Charlie Kirk. In a fresh interview with NY1, the 57-year-old Tony Award-winning actress addressed the uproar sparked by a recent Instagram post in which she expressed her distress over the fatal shooting of the right-wing political commentator on September 10.
"Though we didn't always see eye to eye, I did appreciate some of his viewpoints," Chenoweth had penned, as reported by Playbill. "What a heartbreaking loss. His young family. I believe he's in Heaven now. But still, it's devastating."
"I witnessed the online backlash with my own eyes," the producer-star of The Queen of Versailles confessed to NY1 host Frank DiLella. "It prompted a deep moment of self-reflection." Observing the response to her reaction to Kirk's death—a man known for repeating anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-women rhetoric—she continued, "I've come to realize that my words caused pain to some, and that, in turn, pained me. I would never intentionally... It's no secret that I'm a devout Christian, a person of unwavering faith. It's also widely known that I'm a staunch advocate for the LGBTQ+ community."
For some of her fans, Chenoweth added, Christianity and LGBTQ+ advocacy might seem incompatible. "But for me, they've always gone hand in hand. And they always will," she affirmed.
Kirk, aged 31, succumbed to his injuries after being shot during a campus event at Utah Valley University. Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old Utah resident, has been charged with the murder of the Turning Point USA founder.
President Donald Trump and numerous other Washington politicians swiftly condemned the shooting. Alongside Chenoweth, celebrities such as Chris Pratt, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Rosie O'Donnell also took to social media to share their reactions.
Chenoweth stars in The Queen of Versailles, a new musical that reunites her with Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz. She portrays socialite Jacqueline “Jackie” Siegel, with F. Murray Abraham playing her husband, David Siegel, the "Timeshare King." Speaking of her role to NY1, she shared, "At 57, I'm seeking out complex characters to embody and challenges to overcome."
The Queen of Versailles is set to open on November 9 at Broadway's St. James Theatre.
