High school teachers in Arizona have faced online backlash after a Halloween photo showed them wearing blood-stained shirts with the words “problem solved.” Critics claim the shirts mock the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed in September.
The teachers, from Cienega High School in Tucson, wore the shirts as part of a math-themed costume. The Vail School District superintendent said the shirts were worn last year, before Kirk’s death, and any connection is “unequivocally untrue.” The district has since deleted the photo and issued an apology.
Despite the explanation, some social media users and Arizona politicians have questioned the timing and authenticity of the photo. State Senator Jake Hoffman described the teachers as “bloodthirsty” in a now-deleted post, while Representative Rachel Keshel called the costumes “grotesque” and demanded proof they were worn prior to the assassination.
The district confirmed that teachers have received “hurtful messages and online harassment” as a result of the misunderstanding, with some having personal information shared online. Cienega High School’s website has also been taken offline.
