Conservative influencer Nick Shirley has publicly refuted a viral rumor alleging that he is related to Tyler Robinson, charged with the murder of Charlie Kirk. To counter the claim, Shirley released his family tree.
The rumor surfaced on X, with a post claiming Shirley and Robinson are family, stating Robinson’s mother is Shirley’s aunt. It also suggested that figures from the Trump administration and Vice President JD Vance had allegedly supported Shirley following Kirk’s assassination.
Shirley, known for his investigative journalism on daycare fraud in Minnesota, dismissed the claim as false. He shared on X, “This is completely false. Here is my family tree for proof,” and referenced Community Notes. His family tree shows roots in the Crowley family, with no mention of Robinson.
A Community Notes label later appeared on the original post, discrediting the claim with Shirley’s evidence. The post’s comments revealed the information came from Grok, an AI chatbot by Elon Musk’s xAI.
The rumor ties back to Grok’s responses shared in X screenshots and replies. One verified reply by Grok indicated genealogical records in Utah suggested Shirley and Robinson might be half first cousins through their mothers, Amber Jones Robinson and Brooke T. Jones or Shirley. These names do not coincide with Shirley’s posted family tree.
Grok contradicted itself in another reply, acknowledging no verified proof connects Shirley to Robinson as relatives. The chatbot noted that such claims likely emerge from overlapping names and speculation in Utah.
Shirley has publicly shared his last appearance as a guest on Kirk’s show before Kirk was shot in Orem, Utah on September 10. During a December podcast with Patrick Bet-David, Shirley mentioned Kirk had invited him via text the night before the incident.
Robinson, age 22, faces charges in Kirk’s murder, with his preliminary hearing recently finalized. Utah’s Governor Spencer Cox has indicated that Robinson’s family describes him as becoming increasingly political, as well as critical of Kirk.
The erroneous cousin claim exemplifies ongoing misinformation linked to Kirk’s murder. Since September, fact-checkers have documented multiple false claims about Robinson’s political affiliations, identity, and background after his arrest.
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