Greg Gutfeld Calls Charlie Kirk a Martyr at Lehigh Valley Event

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — On the eve of vigils nationwide for slain conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, Fox News host Greg Gutfeld took the stage at the PPL Center to reflect on his friend’s life, legacy, and what he called Kirk’s “martyrdom.”

Before a crowd announced at nearly 5,000, Gutfeld’s remarks turned deeply personal. He admitted that Kirk’s assassination on Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University left him rattled.

“Am I Next?”

“There was a selfish part of my brain saying, ‘Am I next?’” Gutfeld confessed to the audience during his Greg Gutfeld 2020 presentation on Saturday night.

The candid statement drew a murmur from the crowd, underscoring the sense of vulnerability and fear gripping conservative circles since Kirk’s death. For Gutfeld, though, the fear gave way to resolve.

“I decided overcoming fear was part of the message of Charlie,” he said. “They shot him because he was effective. They couldn’t counter his passion and wit, so they just killed him.”

Declaring Kirk a Martyr

Gutfeld did not shy away from framing Kirk’s killing in stark terms. “His death is a true martyrism,” he told the audience, adding that Kirk’s loss had become a rallying point for conservatives across the nation.

“It was like Charlie was the energy that just got released. We are going to fight harder than ever. His death has created a rebirth, a re-setting.”

The crowd, many of whom had come from across the Lehigh Valley and beyond, responded with applause and chants of Kirk’s name.

Vigils Across the Country

Gutfeld’s comments came as communities nationwide prepared for vigils honoring Kirk, whose sudden death sent shockwaves through political and media circles. Events were scheduled across the Lehigh Valley and in major cities, with thousands expected to attend.

For many, Kirk’s voice had become a defining presence in conservative media. His assassination has been described by allies as both a tragedy and a catalyst for renewed activism.

A Night of Politics and Personal Recollections

Though Kirk’s death dominated 17 minutes of Gutfeld’s 52-minute show — plus a lengthy Q&A session — the evening was not without lighter moments. Gutfeld shifted between sharp-edged political commentary and more personal recollections of his time living and working in the Lehigh Valley.

Once employed at Rodale publishing, Gutfeld recalled those years with humor, weaving anecdotes into his broader themes about resilience and finding meaning in unexpected places.

“You are in the fun party,” he told the right-leaning crowd, contrasting conservatives with their opponents. “They [liberals] have no humor. They have no wit.”

The audience laughed and cheered, echoing his combative but playful tone.

Broader Political Commentary

Beyond Kirk’s death, Gutfeld also addressed a wide range of current events. He spoke about the sudden suspension of ABC talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, offering his own satirical spin on the controversy.

He commented on former President Joe Biden, current President Donald Trump, and former Vice President Kamala Harris, weaving his critiques with the same biting humor that has helped make Gutfeld! the most-watched late-night program on television.

He also poked fun at his Fox News colleagues, drawing laughs from the crowd while reinforcing his brand as a commentator willing to mix self-deprecation with political attacks.

The Tone of the Evening

Despite its heavy themes, the event maintained Gutfeld’s signature mix of sharp political commentary and entertainment. The crowd responded enthusiastically, standing for applause lines, laughing at his jokes, and engaging in the Q&A period with pointed questions about the future of the conservative movement in the wake of Kirk’s death.

Gutfeld’s framing of Kirk as a martyr struck a particular chord. For many in the audience, it gave voice to the grief, anger, and renewed determination they felt.

Looking Ahead

As vigils for Kirk unfolded nationwide, Gutfeld’s remarks in the Lehigh Valley reflected both mourning and mobilization. His words suggested that Kirk’s death, while devastating, would not silence the causes he championed.

“They couldn’t counter his passion and wit,” Gutfeld repeated. “So they just killed him. But Charlie’s voice lives on in all of us.”

For those who attended, it was a night that blended remembrance with defiance — a rallying cry wrapped in humor, reflection, and political fire.