Amanda Seyfried has firmly refused to retract her remarks about the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, declaring in an interview published on Wednesday that she will not be offering any apology.
"I'm not f***ing apologizing for that," the 40-year-old actress told Who What Wear whilst promoting her latest project. "I mean, for f***'s sake, I commented on one thing."
The Mamma Mia! star maintained that her characterisation of Kirk as "hateful" was grounded in evidence.
"I said something that was based on actual reality and actual footage and actual quotes. What I said was pretty damn factual, and I'm free to have an opinion, of course," she stated.
Amanda Seyfried refused to apologise for the Charlie Kirk remarks
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Seyfried expressed gratitude for social media allowing her to provide context after her initial comment sparked outrage.
The controversy erupted in September when Seyfried posted a comment beneath an Instagram video discussing Kirk's death, simply writing that he was "hateful."
The video had addressed the Turning Point USA co-founder's contentious positions on abortion, immigration, transgender rights and the LGBTQIA+ community.
Her remark triggered a wave of criticism from conservative commentators online, with some accusing the actress of suggesting Kirk's killing was somehow justified.
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk died in September
| GB NEWSSeyfried pushed back against this interpretation, insisting her words had been misrepresented.
"Thank God for Instagram," she said in her latest interview. "I was able to give some clarity, and it was about getting my voice back because I felt like it had been stolen and recontextualized — which is what people do, of course."
In a follow-up statement posted on 18 September, the Emmy and Oscar-nominated actress sought to address the backlash whilst standing by her criticism of Kirk's political stance.
"I don't want to add fuel to a fire. I just want to be able to give clarity to something so irresponsibly (but understandably) taken out of context," she wrote at the time.
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Amanda Seyfriend doubled down on her comments
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"Spirited discourse — isn't that what we should be having?"
The Long Bright River star emphasised that condemning violence and criticising someone's views were not mutually exclusive positions.
"We're forgetting the nuance of humanity," Seyfried explained. "I can get angry about misogyny and racist rhetoric and ALSO very much agree that Charlie Kirk's murder was absolutely disturbing and deplorable in every way imaginable. No one should have to experience this level of violence."
Kirk was fatally shot in the neck on 10 September whilst speaking at Utah Valley University.
The 31-year-old conservative activist was struck during a discussion event on campus and later pronounced dead.
Authorities subsequently arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson in connection with the killing. Robinson has been charged but has not yet entered a plea.
Seyfried was among several Hollywood figures who publicly criticised Kirk's politics whilst condemning his violent death. Jamie Lee Curtis became emotional discussing the shooting on Marc Maron's podcast, stating she disagreed with Kirk "on almost every point" but believed he was "a man of faith."
Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth faced criticism for a more sympathetic response, writing on social media: "I'm. So. Upset. Didn't always agree but appreciated some perspectives."