Charlie Kirk Shooting: Utah man sues Candace Owens; alleges podcast defamation

Candace Owens (Image via Getty) A Utah man who says he was simply attending Charlie Kirk’s 2026 rally has filed a lawsuit against political commentator Candace Owens, alleging that her podcast coverage falsely tied him to Kirk’s killing. Robert Hild Jr. claims the accusations turned his life upside down, damaged his reputation and exposed his family to unwanted attention and threats. The lawsuit, filed Monday, also details how social media posts and photographs were allegedly used to support claims against him. Hild says he has repeatedly sought a retraction, but the disputed statements continued to circulate among Owens’ audience.Utah man details alleged fallout from Candace Owens claimsHild was present at the Utah Valley University event on Sept. 10, 2026, when Kirk was fatally shot. According to the lawsuit, he witnessed the attack and later took shelter at the home of his friend’s grandmother with others who had been at the rally.The case says the situation changed after photographs emerged showing alleged shooter Tyler Robinson near the home where Hild and his companions had stayed. The FBI later released a separate image of Robinson inside a stairwell on the UVU campus.Hild a...