A Utah man who says he was simply attending Charlie Kirk’s 2026 rally has filed a lawsuit against political commentator Candace Owens, alleging that her podcast coverage falsely tied him to Kirk’s killing. Robert Hild Jr. claims the accusations turned his life upside down, damaged his reputation and exposed his family to unwanted attention and threats. The lawsuit, filed Monday, also details how social media posts and photographs were allegedly used to support claims against him. Hild says he has repeatedly sought a retraction, but the disputed statements continued to circulate among Owens’ audience.
Utah man details alleged fallout from Candace Owens claims
Hild was present at the Utah Valley University event on Sept. 10, 2026, when Kirk was fatally shot. According to the lawsuit, he witnessed the attack and later took shelter at the home of his friend’s grandmother with others who had been at the rally.The case says the situation changed after photographs emerged showing alleged shooter Tyler Robinson near the home where Hild and his companions had stayed. The FBI later released a separate image of Robinson inside a stairwell on the UVU campus.Hild argues that those circumstances were misinterpreted. The lawsuit says he, his friend and a roommate later walked along a trail Robinson was believed to have taken and took selfies. A friend subsequently shared those images online.According to Hild, Owens used those social media photographs during her podcast coverage and suggested that he had a connection to the suspect. The lawsuit says she also alleged that Hild had ties to foreign actors and a Ukrainian military group with alleged links to neo-Nazis.
Charlie Kirk shooting claims allegedly led to threats
The lawsuit says Hild attempted to persuade Owens to correct or withdraw the allegations, but claims she declined. It further alleges that Owens continued discussing him despite people providing information about his presence at the rally.The fallout, Hild says, went beyond online criticism. He claims followers shared personal information about him and members of his family, including names and home addresses. The lawsuit also alleges that his home and vehicle were vandalized.Hild says the situation became serious enough that law enforcement advised him and his roommates not to remain at their home.In the lawsuit, Hild describes himself as a “private citizen who was in the process of building a happy and productive life far from the public spotlight.” He also says he “experienced the trauma of watching a horrific murder up close.”The legal complaint alleges that the claims have “upended his life, irreparably damaged his reputation, and made him a target for verbal attack and physical threats.”The allegations in the lawsuit remain claims at this stage. The filing now places the dispute over Owens’ statements and their alleged consequences before the court.
