Portland Tattoo Artist Faces Backlash Over Kirk Assassination Promotion

A Portland tattoo artist has sparked widespread online backlash after advertising a discounted neck tattoo promotion tied to the anniversary of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's assassination. The promotion, described as a "Kirkiversary Special," was advertised for September 10, 2026, the one-year mark since Kirk was killed. The offer, posted on an Instagram account identified as blacksctratcher, advertised $50 neck tattoos approximately 3 inches in size. The promotion specifically encouraged customers to have the tattoos placed in what the advertisement referred to as the "exact placement of the kirkhole," a reference to the location of Kirk's fatal gunshot wound. The post reportedly said customers could choose custom artwork or existing flash designs, provided they were placed in the specified area. Kirk, who founded the conservative organization Turning Point USA, was speaking at Utah Valley University in Utah on September 10, 2025, when he was shot in the neck and killed at the age of 31. His death prompted widespread mourning among his supporters and has been a subject of ongoing political discussion.