Kirkification
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Kirkification, also known as Charlie Kirk Face Swaps, is an Internet meme that emerged in 2025 on X and TikTok. It involves face-swapping deceased right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk's likeness onto different memes and reaction images using Photoshop and AI.[1]
The first major instance was an X post by the user @wapzahra, where they swapped Kirk’s face onto a clip of streamer IShowSpeed (the “trying not to laugh” GIF). In October 2025, the meme spread further on TikTok and Instagram reels and gained widespread popularity.[1]
Origin and spread
[edit]The meme originated in late September 2025, two weeks after the assassination of Charlie Kirk. The first major instance was a GIF posted on X by user @wapzahra, in which Charlie Kirk’s face was digitally placed on the body of the streamer IShowSpeed during a viral clip from his stream Early Stream! of him trying not to laugh. This post quickly gained attention on X and was reposted onto Instagram. The term 'Kirkification' was soon adopted, helping to identify and spread the meme more widely.[2][3]
Following the initial post, the meme rapidly gained traction across social media platforms. On TikTok, X, and Instagram, users began placing Kirk’s face onto other popular reaction images and viral clips using AI and Photoshop.[4] The trend accelerated on TikTok in October 2025, where users began applying 'Kirkified' edits to a wide range of videos, GIFs, and memes. These videos, which sometimes included captions referencing Kirk’s death, drew significant engagement and further amplified the meme’s visibility.[1][2]
Reception
[edit]Jack Jenkins of Religion News Service said that AI-generated images of Kirk, including some that insert him into religious or afterlife contexts, represent a new mode of public mourning in online spaces.[5]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Deepfake 'Kirkification' memes are running rampant on social media". mashable.com. November 13, 2025. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ a b "Opinion: AI 'Kirkification' prompts important questions about digital grief". The Daily Reveille. November 17, 2025. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ @wapzahra (23 September 2025). "Kirkified GIF" (Tweet). Retrieved November 20, 2025 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Charlie Kirk Face-Swap Memes Are Taking Over the Internet". typesetbrooklyn.com. November 14, 2025. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ "Charlie Kirk's AI resurrection ushers in a new era of digital grief". religionnews.com. September 17, 2025. Retrieved November 20, 2025.