Frankie Palmeri of Emmure speaks out about people glorifying Charlie Kirk’s death

As reported from theprp, social media users who have been following Frankie Palmeri, the vocalist for Emmure, in recent weeks may have noticed a noticeable change in the type of postings he has been making. Although he has always been a fan of fighting video games, Japanese culture, and other things, posts on his X account have recently become noticeably more political. Palmeri has been reposting posts from right-wing individuals and others in order to achieve this.

Palmeri now openly addressed his political and sociological positions in a lengthy statement released through his X account, apparently prompted by discussion of his opinions. In it, he expressed his opinions about the response to the murder of Charlie Kirk, a right-wing political activist. Palmeri also discussed his thoughts on terrorism and his aspirations for a better future, as well as the repercussions he experienced for not getting the COVID-19 vaccination during the pandemic.

I don’t really care to engage anymore about politics, but I can gladly say that it wasn’t the death of Charlie Kirk that opened my eyes to the sickness in this world. I’ve known how broken it is for a long time. Charlie wasn’t a guy I followed or paid attention to closely, but his online presence certainly created a parasocial awareness that couldn’t be ignored. In a country incredibly divided, he seemed like (and was) a guy who was willing to talk to anyone with the intention of showing that discourse is the best way for people to take that divide and at least coexist within it. Not to mention the hearts and minds he did reach across the country and even the world. To see such heartless and callous celebration of a life needlessly taken. To see the same brand of “human” smiling, making jokes, proudly celebrating his demise, that to me is pure evil. You can pretend there’s no patterns. No overlapping ideology, aesthetic, or attitude, but there is. To be honest, I wish I knew a lot less about everything that’s been happening the last 5 years, I’m grateful to have people in my life who aren’t fully aware of current events and can regulate themselves enough to be a friend while also understanding my point of view. I would and am still friends with people who don’t align completely with my ideals or values. That being said , I never fully recovered watching the country get looted and burned due while also being treated like a second-class citizen because I wouldn’t take a “COVID Vaccine.” Like MANY others, I witnessed so much senseless chaos, all the while I was barred from my line of work, I lost money, I lost time, I wasn’t allowed in many spaces because I didn’t have my “vaccine proof” papers. The same “people” who screamed about “the science” and viciously screamed at me to wear a mask in public, are the same “people” who were happy to kick me out of every facet of society, as they continue on with their remote jobs and blind compliance, pushing their false sense of superiority on me and laughing as I suffer, are the same “people” telling me it’s good Charlie Kirk is dead. Not hyperbole. The same exact “humans.” So, now that we’re here, now that the entire world has seen what these people are, it’s time the roles get reversed. I’m not violent (by choice), I don’t make threats, but I do want these “people” gone for good. Banished to the darkest corners in this life so that the rest of us can carry on. I fully accept what people will think of me because I’m choosing to stand up, but I’ve had enough abuse, and even more so, I’m tired of others being abused. If anything you’ve just read pissed you off, news flash, it’s you creating the problems in this world. This isn’t right-wing propaganda bleeding through your screen. This is just cold truth. I could go on and on about what I disagree with on both sides of the spectrum. I don’t even believe there should be a two party system, but however extreme that idea might sound to you, you know what’s actually extreme? Being happy, someone was killed just because you didn’t like what they had to say. Even if in some hypothetical fantasy world where we find out the whole thing is fake, the conspiracy nuts are all correct and it’s just another staged event to beckon the dark waves of human division, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s objectively wrong to cheer when an innocent person is killed. It’s barbarianism at best and a glimpse of hell at its worse. I want to live in a world and want the future generations to live in a world that accepts the truth, works on spiritual growth, shows compassion for those we don’t associate with and wants to create peace through debate, but it seems like it’s an entire section of society that doesn’t want that, they will only accept the penance of blood, as they have proven. I have never gone after anyone for their political and social compass. I just want terrorism to end. If you support anything that remotely sympathizes with terror, you’re the enemy.

I don't really care to engage anymore about politics, but I can gladly say that it wasn't the death of Charlie Kirk that opened my eyes to the sickness in this world. I've known how broken it is for a long time. Charlie wasn't a guy I followed or paid attention to closely, but…— Frankie Palmeri (@FrankiePalmeri) September 25, 2025

When Palmeri’s Cold Soul merchandise line received a lot of criticism for its design choices in 2012, he had firsthand experience with cancellation. On the back of one of the shirts was an image of the Columbine High School Massacre perpetrators with the words, “shoot first, ask questions last.” Later, Palmeri would respond to the situation, dismissing accusations that the sentence was endorsing racism and violence.

The merch line’s insensitive and crude design choices [did] nothing to improve my life or career. All that negative shit (when I was 24) only gave more reasons for people to find a excuse to dislike/dismiss anything positive I might have achieved. Also the edge lord vibe is played out.

Palmeri in 2018