Buffalo music venue bans DJ after 'We Are Charlie Kirk' song played in jest

A Buffalo music venue says it has barred a DJ from performing again after it said a "We Are Charlie Kirk" meme was shown during a recent performance that sparked backlash online, prompting the club to issue a public apology.

In a Facebook statement posted Sunday, live music bar Nietzsche's said it only learned about the incident after it circulated on social media. While the venue said the artist and promoter described the incident as a joke, it apologized to patrons, said the content did not reflect its values, and announced the DJ responsible would not be invited back.

"We want to apologize for a moment that occurred during a show at Nietzsche's last weekend, involving a ‘We are Charlie Kirk’ meme that we just became aware of via social media," the venue said in a post on Facebook. "After speaking with the artist and promoter, we understand it was intended in jest, but it's not something that has any place at Nietzsche's."

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The bar and lounge continued, "We want to reaffirm that Nietzsche's is, has been, and always will be a place of acceptance, respect, and community. We recognize that this moment did not reflect those values, and we sincerely apologize to anyone who was made to feel unwelcome or hurt."

"The DJ who included this content will not be performing at the club again," Nietzsche's added. "We appreciate everyone who brought this to our attention and will continue working to ensure Nietzsche's remains a welcoming space for all."

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Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of the conservative organization Turning Point USA, was assassinated Sept. 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University during his American Comeback Tour.

Shortly after Kirk’s assassination, a song thought to be AI-generated called "We Are Charlie Kirk" was credited to Spalexma that was released on Sept. 18, 2025. It is in the style of a Christian power ballad, with lyrics like, "He spoke the truth when the cost was high / He lived for Jesus, unafraid to die."

TikTokers and others have used the song in videos to mock Kirk and his death since last year.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Nietzsche's and Turning Point USA for comment but did not immediately receive a response.