Utah Valley University announced Thursday that author Sharon McMahon would not be speaking at its April 29 commencement ceremony following objections from conservative groups, citing safety concerns.
The selection of author and podcaster McMahon drew strong objections from students and groups at UVU, where Charlie Kirk was shot and killed last year, over remarks she made after the assassination. In a brief Thursdayrelease, the university said they would proceed without a commencement speaker.
“Due to increased safety concerns related to the speaker and in consultation with public safety professionals and Sharon McMahon, Utah Valley University has decided to proceed without a featured commencement speaker for this year’s ceremony,” the university said.
“We look forward to coming together as a community to celebrate UVU’s largest graduating class in history, with more than 13,400 graduates, about one third of whom are the first in their families to graduate from college.”
Sharon McMahon will no longer be speaking at UVU’s commencement.https://t.co/UPUDrOoBhdpic.twitter.com/ELkn4Vi5f0
— TPUSAatUVU (@TPUSAatUVU)April 16, 2026
“Sharon McMahon was an inappropriate speaker to begin with, and there are still better options available for this year’s commencement speaker,” Caleb Chilcutt, president of the UVU chapter of TPUSA, said in a Thursday statementpostedon X.
“Sharon McMahon posted a now-deleted series of out-of-context quotes from Charlie in an effort to tarnish his name and minimize the tragedy,” Chilcutt said in a statementpostedApril 9.
While McMahon condemned the Kirk assassination in a social mediaposton the day of Kirk’s assassination, she took aim at Kirk in a Sept. 12 Instagram postarchivedby KSL, a Salt Lake City-area TV station, claiming he pushed “bigoted ideas.”
“It’s important to remember that the incredible tragedy of a public assassination does not erase the harm many experienced from his words, and the ensuing actions his followers took,” McMahon posted.
Source: VidNews » Feed
