Freedom of Speech Isn't a License to Celebrate Death — Business Owners, Stand Firm

By John de Palo Santo | Atlantic Insider

When Charlie Kirk was murdered, the internet erupted — not with grief, but with glee from certain circles. And if you think I’m exaggerating, just look at what happened with Bob Vylan.

The UK punk artist had a show cancelled in the Netherlands after he mocked the death of Charlie Kirk from the stage. His defenders cried “free speech,” but here’s the truth they don’t want to admit: Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences. And when your “speech” includes publicly celebrating someone’s murder, don’t be surprised when venues, sponsors, and employers shut the door.

This Isn’t Speech — It’s a Social Cancer

Bob Vylan’s comments weren’t a bold stand for justice. They were the ugliest display of ideological rot — the kind that applauds death if it’s the “right” political enemy. The crowd reportedly laughed and cheered. That’s not “art.” That’s a mob ritual.

We’ve allowed a generation of self-righteous performers, influencers, and employees to believe that free speech is a one-way street. That if their cause is righteous enough, they’re immune from criticism — even when they cheer a man’s death.

But let’s be clear: Freedom of speech is not a license to become a cultural arsonist while demanding to keep your job, your gig, or your microphone.

Business Owners Have Rights Too

What’s lost in this hysterical defense of “free speech” is the simple fact that private citizens and business owners also have rights — including the right to protect their brand, their values, and their team from toxic individuals.

If you hire someone who later stands on stage and mocks a murder, you have not only the right — but the responsibility — to fire them. Period.

I don’t care what side of the political aisle you’re on. If someone did this after the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, George Floyd, or Bernie Sanders, their career would be over in a heartbeat. And rightly so.

Hate dressed up as “bravery” is still hate. And no one is obligated to keep you on payroll while you glorify it.

The “Woke” Class Thinks Hate is Holy — As Long As They’re the Ones Screaming It

This is the modern left’s game: celebrate violence, mock tragedy, demand applause — and then cry censorship when the real world responds.

If you’re a conservative and you say something even remotely offensive, the cancel mob wants your head. But if you’re on the left and you celebrate a man’s murder from a stage, you’re labeled “controversial” or “provocative.”

The hypocrisy is stunning. But the solution is simple: stop playing their game. Start enforcing your own standards.

What Employers Must Learn From Bob Vylan

If you own a business, run a brand, or manage a venue — take note. Silence is consent. If you keep people on staff who promote hate, violence, or murder, your silence will come back to bite you.

• Set a clear code of conduct. Make values non-negotiable.
• Defend your culture — even if Twitter disagrees.
• Don’t be afraid to cut ties with people who are toxic to your mission.

Remember: they have the right to speak. You have the right to walk away. That’s not tyranny — that’s liberty in action.

Freedom Without Accountability Is Just Anarchy

The deeper danger in all of this isn’t one punk singer mouthing off. It’s the cultural belief that all actions should be protected, and all consequences are fascism. That’s not America. That’s chaos.

True freedom only works when paired with personal responsibility. If you say something vile, you own it. And if you lose a show, a job, or a sponsor as a result — that’s not censorship. That’s the marketplace reacting to your choices.

You’re free to say what you want. And I’m free to decide whether I want you representing my company, brand, or mission. That’s how freedom actually works.

The Line Has Been Crossed — It’s Time to Push Back

Bob Vylan crossed the line. So did the crowd cheering him on. And so does anyone who thinks celebrating a man’s death is some kind of moral stand.

We must say — without fear, without shame — that there is still such a thing as decency. That there is still a difference between dissent and desecration. That if you spit on someone’s grave, you don’t get to cry when the world spits back.

This isn’t about Charlie Kirk anymore. It’s about whether civilization can hold the line. Because if cheering murder becomes normal, nothing is off limits.

And that’s when we lose more than jobs, more than shows — we lose our soul.