Following Charlie Kirk’s passing, Eddie from The Deen Show shares for the first time the private conversations he had with the conservative media figure. What emerges is a story about the power of peaceful dialogue, the damage caused by being surrounded by hatred, and a man who privately admitted he knew nothing about Islam and had simply been taught to hate it. This account serves as both a tribute to honest conversation and a warning about the consequences of unchecked Islamophobia.
A Private Conversation That Changed the Dynamic
Introduced by a mutual friend in July 2023, Eddie and Charlie Kirk exchanged emails, phone numbers, and eventually had a 30-to-45-minute phone conversation. Eddie shared the mission of The Deen Show: helping people understand Islam by clearing up misconceptions. He discussed the Scofield Bible, dispensationalism, and how these have been weaponized to divide Muslims and Christians. Charlie listened, asked questions, and was genuinely curious rather than combative.
“Charlie acknowledged to me that he knew nothing about Islam and that he had been taught to hate Islam. He admitted he was raised in a context where many around him had negative views about Muslims.”
The Root of the Hatred
Charlie revealed that he grew up with many Serbian friends who carried deep anti-Muslim sentiment, often calling Muslims “Turks,” a prejudice rooted in the same ideology that fueled the Bosnian genocide of 1992. He had never had a Muslim friend growing up, though he mentioned meeting a couple of Muslims in college who were phenomenal individuals. This pattern, of never knowing Muslims personally while being fed hatred about them, is exactly why educational efforts and genuine human connection matter so deeply.
“I’m not trying to trap or bait you. I’m asking because I really don’t know.” — Charlie Kirk to Eddie, during their private conversation about Islam
Lessons from This Experience
- Charlie Kirk agreed to appear on The Deen Show and stopped posting inflammatory content about Islam after their private conversations
- Most anti-Muslim hatred stems from ignorance and negative influences rather than personal experience with Muslims
- Peaceful dialogue and being “the Muslim friend someone never had” can break through even deeply ingrained prejudice
- The Scofield Bible and dispensationalist theology have been used to drive a wedge between Christians and Muslims for political purposes
- Senseless violence must always be condemned, and the proper response to hatred is education, patience, and sincere conversation
