It’s easy to get swept up in a compelling narrative, especially in the fast-paced world of viral internet stories. Recently, a powerful story began circulating online claiming that young singer Courtney Hadwin had delivered an emotional tribute to the late Charlie Kirk and launched a fierce criticism of talk show host Jimmy Kimmel. The tale was poignant, detailed, and spread quickly. However, a closer look reveals a different story altogether, one that highlights how quickly fiction can travel in the digital age.
The rumor mill went into overdrive in late September 2025, suggesting that America’s Got Talent star was under attack for her heartfelt words about Kirk. Yet, these reports have been thoroughly debunked. The entire episode appears to be a work of fiction, a classic example of online clickbait designed to generate engagement rather than report facts.
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The Anatomy of a Viral Rumor
The story first emerged from a Facebook post by a user named Noah James on Friday, September 26, 2025. The post contained a lengthy and sharply worded statement allegedly from Courtney Hadwin, taking aim at Jimmy Kimmel for monologue comments he made about Charlie Kirk. The fabricated quote read, “This isn’t edgy – this is ugly. Making fun of someone’s death isn’t brave – it’s pathetic. That’s not comedy, that’s cruelty. You didn’t make people laugh, you made humanity smaller.” The statement went even further, claiming that Courtney said Kimmel “failed as a human being” and that if his actions represented the future of comedy, then it was “rotten to the core.”
These specific, dramatic quotes were picked up and shared across social media platforms, giving them an air of authenticity. Other posts added layers to the fiction, with one claiming Courtney was “attacked from all sides” after posting her tribute, and another describing a scene where her voice “trembled with emotion” while honoring Kirk in front of a stunned stadium. However, these stories are not true. According to fact-checkers, Courtney Hadwin has not shared any public response whatsoever to Jimmy Kimmel’s comments or to Charlie Kirk’s death. The narrative was constructed entirely from whole cloth.
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The Real Events Behind the Fiction
While Courtney Hadwin’s involvement is a fabrication, the story does touch on real events that unfolded in September 2025. Jimmy Kimmel did indeed make comments about Charlie Kirk on his show during an episode that aired on September 15. His monologue reportedly addressed Kirk’s death and the political fallout surrounding it, stating, “The MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
Jimmy Kimmel claims “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it” and “This is not how an adult… pic.twitter.com/KMhnskaYWD
— Alex Christy (@alexchristy17) September 16, 2025
These comments sparked significant controversy, leading to Kimmel’s show being preempted for a period. ABC and its parent company Disney clarified that the preemption was necessary to avoid a “tense situation” while people were mourning. The show returned on September 23, and during that broadcast, Kimmel addressed the situation directly. He criticized the affiliates that took his show off the air and did not offer an apology, but he did clarify his intentions.
“I have no illusions about changing anyone’s mind, but I do want to make something clear, because it’s important to me as a human, and that is, you understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man. I don’t think there’s anything funny about it,” Kimmel said.
Jimmy Kimmel gets emotional and nearly cries while speaking about Charlie Kirk’s death and apologizies for his past comments pic.twitter.com/ZAGnN6sosY
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) September 24, 2025
This real-life controversy provided the perfect backdrop for the fake story about Courtney Hadwin to spread. It tapped into genuine public debate and strong emotions, making the fictional tale seem more plausible to those who encountered it in their social media feeds. The lesson here is a crucial one for navigating today’s media landscape: a detailed story with emotional quotes can feel true, but it’s always worth checking reliable sources before believing, or sharing, what you see online.
