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The Matrix Co-Creator Lilly Wachowski Defends Fired DC Writer Who Mocked Charlie Kirk Assassination — While Adapting Writer’s Controversial Novel

September 16, 2025  ·
  Marvin Montanaro
Lilly Wachowski speaking into the camera

Lilly Wachowski - YouTube, Netflix Espana

In the days following the tragic assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Hollywood figures and entertainment insiders continue to reveal where they stand on one of the most disturbing political killings in modern American history. The latest voice to emerge and attack Charlie Kirk is Lilly Wachowski, the co-creator of The Matrix and a biological male who identifies as female.

Lilly Wachowski lashed out at Charlie Kirk and defended Gretchen Felker-Martin, the now-fired DC Comics writer who mocked his assassination online. Felker-Martin is also a biological male who identifies as female. Interestingly, Wachowski has also been planning to adapt one of Felker-Martin’s novels, the controversial gender politics dystopian horror story Manhunt, for television.

gretchen felker-martin a dc comics writer

Gretchen Felker-Martin, a DC comcis writer – X, @AgoraIsrael

The controversy began when Felker-Martin made posts openly celebrating Kirk’s murder. The writer was swiftly dismissed by DC, a rare instance of accountability in an industry often willing to excuse outrageous behavior from creators so long as it aligns with certain ideological leanings. Instead of condemning Felker-Martin’s rhetoric, Wachowski rushed to the defense, painting Felker-Martin as a victim rather than addressing the cruel remarks.

Lilly Wachowski’s Public Attack

In comments shared online, Wachowski accused conservatives of hypocrisy for criticizing Felker-Martin’s celebration of the assassination. Rather than acknowledging the inhumanity of laughing at political murder, Wachowski instead redirected blame back at DC and claimed that company was “dutifully carrying on his rotten work.”

The stance was both unsurprising and yet stunning in its brazenness, given the national climate of mourning and alarm after Kirk’s killing.

DC comics planting their flag on the moral high ground on the side of a white nationalist, transphobe while dutifully carrying on his rotten work in the firing of Gretchen Felker-Martin.
The characters of the DC universe would find this despicable.

[image or embed]

— Lilly Wachowski (@lillywachowski.bsky.social) September 12, 2025 at 4:59 PM

 

This is not the first time Lilly Wachowski has waded into political and cultural controversy. For years, the filmmaker has used the reputation earned from The Matrix to promote highly progressive causes, often clashing with conservatives. However, in this case, the defense of someone who openly cheered a man’s assassination goes beyond partisan lines and into the realm of outright disregard for decency.

Gretchen Felker-Martin’s Role

Felker-Martin had been writing for DC Comics before the scandal broke. The writer’s social media posts about Kirk shocked even many within the comic book community, sparking calls for accountability. For once, a major entertainment company acted swiftly—terminating Felker-Martin’s professional relationship in order to distance itself from the rhetoric.

DC Writer Mocks Charlie Kirk on social media

DC comics writer Gretchen Felker-Martin mocks the death of Charlie Kirk hours after he was fatally shot – BlueSky

But now, thanks to Wachowski’s intervention, Felker-Martin is being reframed as a wronged creative rather than a writer who publicly reveled in the murder of a public figure. This turn of events highlights once again the deep cultural divide in the entertainment world, where political violence is excused or condemned not on principle, but based on the target’s ideology.

Wachowski’s Connection to Manhunt

One aspect that makes Wachowski’s defense of Felker-Martin even more telling is the professional link between the two.

Lilly Wachowski at an event arms spread wide

Lilly Wachowski speaks at an event – YouTube, Entertainment Tonight

In late 2024, it was announced that Wachowski was developing a television adaptation of Manhunt, Felker-Martin’s dystopian horror novel that places gender politics at the heart of its apocalyptic storyline. The book’s plot revolves around a world where men are transformed into feral creatures, with two biological men identifying as women serving as the protagonists fighting to survive both the chaos and the hostility of radical feminist antagonists.

The project was already underway before Kirk’s assassination, but Wachowski’s recent defense of Felker-Martin cannot be viewed in a vacuum. By supporting Felker-Martin in the wake of the controversy, Wachowski is also protecting a collaborator whose public reputation directly impacts the viability of this adaptation. In other words, Wachowski has more than just ideological reasons for defending Felker-Martin — the Matrix co-creator has a financial stake in ensuring the writer is not so thoroughly rejected by audiences that Manhunt becomes toxic before cameras even roll.

Lilly Wachowski being interviewed by Collider

Lilly Wachowski being interviewed by Collider – YouTube, Collider

This overlap between ideology and business reveals that Wachowski’s stance is not merely about principle, but about preserving the marketability of a project the director is deeply invested in. That dual motivation adds another troubling layer to an already disturbing episode.

Why This Matters

The Lilly Wachowski Charlie Kirk controversy is not just about one Hollywood director or one dismissed writer. It’s a microcosm of a larger cultural problem: the erosion of empathy, civility, and shared humanity in public discourse. When assassination becomes a punchline, and when industry giants defend those who spread that kind of rhetoric, society edges ever closer to normalizing hatred as acceptable commentary.

Charlie Kirk with headphones in from of a microphone

Charlie Kirk sits in front of a microphone for a YouTube video – YouTube, Charlie Kirk

The reaction from the entertainment industry to Kirk’s death continues to expose which voices value human dignity and which see political opponents as disposable. And in this case, Wachowski’s alignment with Felker-Martin tells the public exactly where they stand.

How do you feel about Lilly Wachowski defender Felker-Martin and attacking Charlie Kirk? Sound off in the comments and let us know!

Author: Marvin Montanaro
Marvin Montanaro is the Editor-in-Chief of That Park Place and a seasoned entertainment journalist with nearly two decades of experience across multiple digital media outlets and print publications. He joined That Park Place in 2024, bringing with him a passion for theme parks, pop culture, and film commentary. Based in Orlando, Florida, Marvin regularly visits Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, offering firsthand reporting and analysis from the parks. He’s also the creative force behind The M4 Empire YouTube channel, bringing a critical eye toward the world of pop culture. Montanaro’s insights are rooted in years of real-world reporting and editorial leadership. He can be reached via email at mmontanaro@thatparkplace.com SOCIAL MEDIA: X: http://x.com/marvinmontanaro Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvinmontanaro Facebook: https://facebook.com/marvinmontanaro YouTube: http://YouTube.com/TheM4Empire Email: mmontanaro@thatparkplace.com