The "Kirkification" meme has reached new heights of virality, and now, Charlie Kirk fans are pushing back against the face swap meme trend.

As a response to the very viral memes they perceive as disrespecting Kirk's death, people are now taking the tragic story of murdered Japanese teen Junko Furuta and turning her into an equally controversial meme.

So, how exactly did these "Junko Furuta Charlie Kirk retaliation memes" get started, and what are people saying about them? Here's what you need to know.

Who Was 'Junko Furuta'?

Junko Furuta was a Japanese teen who was murdered by several teenagers in the Yakuza way back in 1989. Furuta was riding her bike one day when one of the teens pushed her off and led her to a warehouse. Another of the teens, pretending to help her, led Furuta to a warehouse, where she was threatened and taken hostage by the Yakuza.

Furuta was then infamously tortured and held captive for over 40 days before she was eventually murdered.

Online, Furuta's tragic death has gone down as one of the most brutal murders in history, resulting in numerous video essays, somber memes and articles over the years.

What Is The 'Junko Furuta Charlie Kirk Retaliation' Meme?

In 2025, right-wing political activist and podcaster Charlie Kirk was assassinated while giving a speech at Utah Valley University (UVU). This became one of the biggest stories of the year, resulting in widespread mourning from both sides of the political aisle, especially among his supporters.

However, some people who oppose Kirk and his views have turned his death into something of a meme, most notably through the "Kirkification" meme, which involves pasting Kirk's face over anything and everything.

In early November 2025, a Kirkified image of Junko Furuta, where Kirk's face has been pasted over hers, started spreading online, sparking the Junko Furuta memes shortly after.

How Is 'Junko Furuta Charlie Kirk Retaliation' Used In Memes?

The Junko Furuta memes largely act as an edgy response to the Kirkification memes. It's been suggested that the point of the memes is to ragebait online leftists and Charlie Kirk meme enjoyers into calling out the Furuta memes.

This, in turn, would highlight their perceived hypocrisy over being unable to laugh at Furuta's death, while being able to laugh at Kirk's.

The Furuta memes have been going viral across X / Twitter and TikTok, gaining a lot of support, but also a lot of criticism.

Some believe that Furuta and Kirk's deaths are not equivalent, due to Furuta being a teen who was tormented for over a month before her death. Others argue that a murder is a murder, suggesting that if one is okay to laugh at, then so is the other.

What Are Some More 'Junko Furuta Charlie Kirk Retaliation' Memes?

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For the full history of Junko Furuta Charlie Kirk Retaliation Memes, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.