‘It Nearly Broke Me’: Actress Kristin Chenoweth Responds To Backlash Over Charlie Kirk Comments

“Wicked” star Kristin Chenoweth said she was shaken by the backlash over her comments on Charlie Kirk’s death.

In an interview published Monday by The Hollywood Reporter, Chenoweth said she was shocked by the aggressive criticism she faced after sharing a heartfelt message on social media.

She commented beneath Kirk’s final Instagram post, writhing, “I’m. So. Upset. Didn’t always agree but appreciated some perspectives. What a heartbreak,” and concluded her post with a broken-heart emoji.

Almost instantly, some members of the LGBTQ+ community — a significant segment of her fan base — turned on the actress for her response.

Chenoweth’s emotional response to his assassination sparked outrage from some of her fans. She declined to comment further on the subject matter during her interview, beyond a singular sentence shutting down the topic.

“It was tough on me, but I’m not going to answer any questions about it because I dealt with it,” she told The Hollywood Reporter.

“It nearly broke me, and that’s all I’m going to say. You probably know my heart, so you probably know,” she said.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 08: Kristin Chenoweth attends The 78th Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 08, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)

Chenoweth previously addressed the backlash on local news outlet NY1.

“I saw what happened [to Kirk] online with my own eyes, and I had a human moment of reflection. … It’s no secret that I’m an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community,” she said.  (RELATED: ‘Giant Star In The Night Sky Just Went Dark’: Charlie Sheen Speaks Out About Assassination Of Charlie Kirk)

Elsewhere in the interview, the actress discussed her return to Broadway in “The Queen of Versailles,” and she spoke candidly about the famous men she dated.