'Russel Brand dead': Dan Bongino's Charlie Kirk tribute triggers rumors

Dan Bongino, a conservative political commentator with over 7 million followers on X, mistakenly started 'Russell Brand dead' rumors, when he shared a tribute to Charlie Kirk on the social media platform.

In an X post now seen by millions of people, Bongino on Tuesday shared  a picture with Russel Brand and Charlie Kirk with the caption, "There won't be another. One of the saddest days of my life. He was just different. And everyone who knew him, knew it. May God rest your sould."

In another picture, Dan Bongino is seen in conversation with an FBI agent. Most of his followers couldn't spot Charlie Kirk in the photo and thought the political commentator was announcing the death of Russel Brand.

Another reason his social media post misled people was he didn't write Charlie Kirk's name in the tribute.

US right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk was credited with building President Donald Trump's base among younger voters, galvanizing conservative youth and rising to international prominence through a group he founded at age 18.

Kirk, an Illinois native who founded the conservative student group Turning Point USA and went on to become a rising star in the Republican Party under Trump, had just returned to the United States from an overseas speaking tour when he was shot to death on Wednesday. He was 31 years old.

The founder of the Turning Point US was shot dead in September 21025  while speaking at a Utah university.