Simplicity NZ co-founder Sam Stubbs has come under fire after posting a controversial statement about slain conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
In a now-deleted LinkedIn post, Stubbs wrote: “We should mourn the violence but not the man. And we certainly cannot eulogise a racist, sexist and bigot. RIP Charlie Kirk. I wish your ideas had died with you.”
The remarks sparked a wave of criticism across social media and political circles. Stubbs later retracted the comment via a message relayed to Simplicity’s business chat, apologising for what he called a “misunderstanding.”
He clarified: “Murder is always wrong. I disagreed with his views on many things, but he had every right to express them, as do his critics. This in no way makes what happened ok. My deepest condolences go to his family, and all others who die for what they believe in.”
Prominent voices quickly condemned Stubbs’ initial statement. Cam Slater accused him of hypocrisy, calling him “an arsehole” whose “KiwiSaver is claimed to be ‘ethical.’” Other critics highlighted Stubbs’ past involvement in Hanover Group, which collapsed in 2008, costing investors around $150 million. “Go elsewhere unless you want a guy who is backtracking from his twisted take on Charlie’s assassination,” one critic wrote.
Author Ian Wishart described the incident as “a brush with brand destruction” and warned corporates to “read the room before opening mouth about the Charlie Kirk murder.” Liz Gunn launched a blistering attack, accusing Stubbs of being “utterly uneducated” and “a dedicated acolyte” of the political left.
Online reaction has been scathing, with some predicting reputational damage to Simplicity. “What was he thinking? How to lose an empire overnight,” one response read, while another declared, “No one in their right mind will support or invest in his company after this.”
The “racist” lie
Meanwhile prominent black leaders have come out in support of Kirk, dismissing claims made by legacy mainstream media “experts” and left-wing social media accounts that he was a “racist”.
Black comedian and founder of Cousin T’s Terence K. Williams told his 2.3 million followers on X that the claim Kirk was “racist” was a lie.
“Charlie Kirk was not a racist and I will not sit back and allow people to spread that lie
“I gave Charlie Kirk his flowers last year and thanked him for helping 100s of young black people get an invite to the White House back in 2019
“He helped pay for most of their flights and hotels because it cost so much to travel and he didn’t want them to miss out
“He have gave them an experience & opportunity of a lifetime and yes he helped me get an invite as well.
“I’m going to miss him so much!”
Charlie Kirk was not a racist and I will not sit back and allow people to spread that lie
I gave Charlie Kirk his flowers last year and thanked him for helping 100s of young black people get an invite to the White House back in 2019
He helped pay for most of their flights and… pic.twitter.com/xN3T3wFtiY
— Terrence K. Williams (@w_terrence) September 13, 2025
What an absolute idiot!!
Good. Politically the left are at shoot people in the face now. About time the right caught up to the getting people canceled stage
Sounds like this clown Stubbs consumes too much fake news on Stuff and 1News. What a clown.
Vote with your money.
Who was Charlie Kirk?
A political hack past His shelf life
See how people get screwed up
So, and who are you and what is your argument?
He is playing with us, thinks he is God like but he is not.
Anyone who reads and believes this maori radical anonymous should actually search on X for Charlie Kirk, find out the real reason the world is upset. He was a great intellect that just spoke. The left don’t like people talking because their ideologies are lies and do not have any facts behind them. Charlie showed the university students this.
Yes what is Your argument
He was a Zionist groomed mouthpiece
An apologist for the Jews
A useful idiot
Influencing who and what?
Only sheeple would follow this clown
This idiot has been captured by the corrupt MSM.
The “lifting of the veil”, showing us the “lay of the land”. Author Ian Wishart described the incident as “a brush with brand destruction”. Now that’s priceless.
This idiot just did a huge favour to the scam scheme of Kiwi Saver.
Thej just want your savings but never pay them back!
Sam, better check out where the next WINZ office is.
Another cultist exposing himself. Keep up that arrogance clown.
We ain’t backing down fool.
Sometimes its best to say nothing…….
They can’t help themselves, it’s pathological.
A wise man speaks when he has something to say. A fool speaks when he has to say something.
Wishing love and comfort to Erika, (his wife), his children and extended family at this time as they mourn the loss of a dear husband, father, son, brother and friend. May God wrap His arms around you all at this time.🙏❤️
Amen
Behaving normally is fine. Silly sam didn’t.
I’ve already pulled my money OUT of anything having to do with Sam Stubbs.
Maybe he’ll land a role on Coro Street as Charlie Stubb’s long lost brother…
But, the WINZ office will probably be his new career…as a minimally-paid and ignored ‘client’.
Does he have chidren? No worries- CYFS will take care of that aspect of things from having low ‘Social Credit’…
There is one good earthly thing that has emerged from Charlie Kirk being assassinated; at least we all know who the enemies are, having been smoked-out from this tragedy with their comments, actions, and attitudes!
The funny thing, or perhaps not so funny thing, is that there needs to be a revolution in America to save the democratic ideal.
Which isn’t to say the democratic ideal would survive a revolution in America – but the “minorities” sure as hell won’t either.
I’ve already pulled my money OUT of anything having to do with Sam Stubbs.
Maybe he’ll land a role on Coro Street as Charlie Stubb’s long lost brother…
But, the WINZ office will probably be his new career…as a minimally-paid and ignored ‘client’.
Does he have chidren? No worries- CYFS will take care of that aspect of things from having low ‘Social Credit’…
There is one good earthly thing that has emerged from Charlie Kirk being assassinated; at least we all know who the enemies are, having been smoked-out from this tragedy with their comments, political beliefs, actions, and attitudes!
Such derisive Communist Left Wing ANTIFA / BLM trash should pack-up and move to an African Communist country!
What a totally ignorant brainwashed prat, Charlie Kirk was none of those, guess some people don’t like free speech and the truth.
“men with newspaper brains, television souls and high school ideas.”
Charles Bukowski
Are you misinformed by our fake news narrative Mr Stubbs? or are you just a down right racist? hiding behind that charade of yours!
God bless Charlie kirks family, rest in peace Charlie.🙏
Apology not accepted. Boycott. The time for diplomacy is over.
Going woke going broke haha
When they tell you who they are, believe them.
Wurd up stubzz