Brilyn Hollyhand, the 19-year-old conservative commentator widely seen as the heir to Charlie Kirk’s movement, is facing a wave of online criticism as he launches his first major campus tour since Kirk’s assassination. Despite selling out auditoriums, Hollyhand is being met with a stark message from segments of the public: he is “not a replacement” for the late Turning Point USA founder.
Who is Brilyn Hollyhand and What is the Backlash?
Following the tragic death of Charlie Kirk on September 10, Hollyhand vowed to get “louder” in advancing their shared conservative mission. He kicked off a 10-stop campus tour with Turning Point USA (TPUSA) on September 26 to a packed audience at the University of Arkansas, which he celebrated on social media as proof that students are “the next Charlie Kirks.” However, the event also ignited a firestorm on social media, with many users vehemently rejecting the idea of him stepping into Kirk’s shoes. Critics were quick to dismiss the comparison, with one stating, “The first thing is to stop Brilyn Hollyhand. He’s not Charlie Kirk,” and another calling him “a child trying to fill the shoes of a giant.”
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What Was Hollyhand’s Relationship with Charlie Kirk?
The connection between Hollyhand and Kirk runs deep, complicating the current narrative. Their mentorship began when an 11-year-old Hollyhand interviewed Kirk on his fledgling YouTube channel. Kirk, impressed, told the boy he was “way ahead of the game.” This relationship blossomed into a long-term mentorship, with Hollyhand describing Kirk as “a walking, talking beacon of hope” and a personal friend he spoke to until the morning of Kirk’s passing. He fondly recalled Kirk’s advice from his fourth-grade years: “The day civil discourse dies, a civil war begins.”
Is Hollyhand Actually Trying to Replace Kirk?
Despite the public’s perception, Hollyhand has publicly addressed the question of succession head-on. In an interview with The Telegraph, he explicitly stated, “There is no replacement for Charlie Kirk, there’s nobody that can fill his shoes.” This suggests his aim is not to be a direct substitute but to continue the mission Kirk started. Hollyhand is no political novice; he founded a conservative website in fifth grade, hosts a podcast, serves as co-chair of the RNC’s Youth Advisory Council, and has published a book, building a following of over half a million.
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