WNBA Star’s Controversial Remarks Following Charlie Kirk Shooting Incident
In the aftermath of the attempted assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah, New York Liberty player Natasha Cloud took to social media with a series of racially charged posts that quickly drew significant attention and controversy. Following the arrest of 22-year-old Tyler Robinson as the suspect in the shooting, Cloud made several inflammatory statements on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the suspect’s race, family background, and political affiliations. While she deleted one particularly contentious post after receiving backlash, she left several others up that made unsubstantiated claims about Robinson being a “far-right Republican” and questioned why historically Black colleges and universities had recently received threats when “it was a 22-year-old white boy from Utah who shot Charlie.” Her comments appeared to draw a direct connection between the assassination attempt and what she characterized as racism rather than political differences, stating bluntly: “Racism. Not politics.”
The controversy surrounding Cloud’s social media activity intensified as she engaged with critics, defending her use of racially-charged language and receiving support from some media figures like journalist Jemele Hill. This incident isn’t the first time Cloud has been at the center of political controversy. Prior to these posts, she had used the Kirk shooting to advocate for stricter gun control laws, writing that America’s Second Amendment “was written for guns that took powder. Not military grade weapons” and pointing out that the United States leads the world in gun-related deaths. Her previous outspoken political positions have included supporting socialist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, criticizing former President Donald Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and expressing opposition to U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
Meanwhile, information about the shooting suspect presents a more complex picture than Cloud’s characterizations suggested. According to records and statements from educational institutions, Tyler Robinson had a seemingly ordinary upbringing in Washington County, Utah. He attended local schools from 2008 to 2021, including Pine View Middle School and Pine View High School, before briefly attending Utah State University for one semester. At the time of his arrest, Robinson was enrolled as a third-year student in an electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College. Available social media posts reviewed by media outlets depicted typical family milestones, birthdays, and school achievements, contrasting with the politically-charged narrative that emerged in the aftermath of the shooting.
Cloud’s comments about the Kirk shooting fit into a broader pattern of her outspoken political activism as a WNBA player. In July, she made headlines for controversial remarks about Trump and ICE, warning that New Yorkers “don’t play around” and suggesting that ICE would “learn the hard way” if they came to the city. She has been vocal about her support for socialist policies and has frequently criticized what she perceives as systemic problems in American society. In February, responding to Trump’s decision to eliminate several government DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs, Cloud told the Associated Press that “systems of power are working as they always were intended to work” and that it was “time to break down a system that has only been about White men.” She has consistently argued that the United States prioritizes “profit and money over people.”
The controversy surrounding Cloud’s statements highlights the increasingly charged intersection of sports, politics, and social media in contemporary American culture. Athletes across various sports have become more politically outspoken in recent years, using their platforms to advocate for causes and express opinions on social and political issues. Cloud represents one of the more vocal figures in the WNBA, a league that has collectively embraced activism on issues ranging from racial justice to LGBTQ+ rights. Her statements following the Kirk shooting demonstrate both the power and potential pitfalls of athlete activism in the social media age, where comments can quickly generate widespread attention, support, and criticism from across the political spectrum.
As of the reporting, the New York Liberty had not responded to requests for comment regarding Cloud’s statements on social media. The assassination attempt on Kirk and the subsequent arrest of Robinson remain under investigation by law enforcement authorities. The incident and its aftermath illustrate the deeply polarized nature of American politics, where even violent attacks can become fodder for partisan interpretation and commentary. Cloud’s comments, whether viewed as courageous truth-telling or irresponsible speculation depending on one’s perspective, demonstrate how quickly high-profile incidents can become touchpoints for broader debates about race, politics, and violence in American society.
