The dark memes behind Charlie Kirk’s murder

In this episode of The Global Story, hosts Asma Khalid and Tristan Redman, along with BBC social media investigations correspondent Marianna Spring, delve into the cryptic messages found engraved on bullet casings related to the murder of Charlie Kirk. They dissect each inscription, including references to furry subculture ("owo"), gaming culture ("Hey, fascist, catch" with arrows referencing Helldivers 2), the anti-fascist anthem "Bella Ciao," and a trolling phrase ("If you read this, you are gay, LMAO"). The discussion explores the potential meanings behind these messages, considering whether they indicate a clear ideological motive or reflect the complex, often nihilistic, nature of online meme subcultures, and how easily narratives can be manipulated. The analysis further considers the alleged shooter's possible connection to the Groyper movement and the challenges of interpreting such online language in the real world.