An Ohio father says he has endured a relentless wave of harassment following a series of viral Facebook posts in which he criticized conservative activist Charlie Kirk and mocked Kirk’s wife, Erika. Matthew Berdyck, an Akron resident, claims the backlash quickly intensified, resulting in thousands of abusive messages, threats targeting his family, and what he describes as a coordinated intimidation campaign by online MAGA supporters.
In a lengthy viral post shared on Facebook on December 12, Berdyck wrote that he initially condemned political violence after news of Charlie Kirk’s death broke, saying he did not even know who Kirk was at the time. Over the following three months, however, he said his online profile grew—along with the anger directed at him. Berdyck claims he received more than 25,000 hateful comments, ranging from insults and slurs to explicit threats of violence:
According to Berdyck, the most disturbing part wasn’t the name-calling aimed at him, but that the messages are now targeting his family. He alleges hundreds of inappropriate comments about his 17-year-old daughter, threats to murder her, threats against his 70-year-old mother, and even threats toward his 94-year-old grandfather from whom he claimed were MAGA supporters.
Despite the threats, Berdyck still claps back regularly against the online threats, calling them, “These MAGA are rabid animals.” In one post, he mocked his alleged harassers by going to a grocery store without security and eating pizza, writing that “MAGA is all talk, no action.” He added that his daughter’s response to the threats was to keep working on a puppet for a show choir at home, unbothered, listening to Metallica, and far tougher than the men sending messages.
Berdyck Continues to Post Harassment & Threats from MAGA Supporters Daily
So far, it appears the wave of hateful messages is not slowing down, as Berdyck continues to share examples of the hostile comments he says he receives on a near-daily basis. The ongoing posts have kept the dispute visible online, drawing in supporters, critics, and casual observers who have followed the back-and-forth as it has unfolded across social media. Each new screenshot or comment appears to add another layer to the controversy, making it less a single incident and more an extended public feud shaped by repeated reactions, counterreactions, and escalating rhetoric. The latest round of attention seems to have been reignited after Berdyck publicly floated the idea of attending a Turning Point USA event to confront Erika Kirk. In his remarks, he asked followers whether it would be “wrong” to tell her to “STFU and get back in the kitchen.” The comment quickly became a flashpoint, with some people defending it as an intentionally provocative statement meant to challenge a political figure, while others condemned it as needlessly offensive, sexist, and inflammatory. The phrase itself drew particular criticism because of its longstanding association with dismissive stereotypes about women and their place in public life. Rather than cooling tensions, the remark appears to have intensified the online backlash. Some users responded by applauding Berdyck’s confrontational style, arguing that harsh language is common in political disputes and that public figures should expect aggressive criticism. Others pushed back strongly, saying that personal insults and gendered attacks distract from legitimate political debate and only contribute to a more toxic online environment. As the argument spread, the focus shifted not only to Berdyck’s original comment, but also to the broader question of how far online political commentary should go before it crosses a line. For now, the controversy shows no clear sign of fading. Berdyck’s continued sharing of hateful messages has kept the dispute active, while the divided response to his comments has further fueled the online firestorm. What began as a single provocative statement has grown into a larger debate over public confrontation, political hostility, and the role social media plays in amplifying outrage.
Some, however, have reminded Berdyck that he should not “judge everyone the same way because of what a few do” to which the Ohio dad replied, “A few? 25,000 separate people? If you’re unique then fall out of line with Trump and don’t minimize the actions of your fellow party members. One guy shot Charlie Kirk yet I’m told everyday I’m being held accountable for it even though I spoke out against it.”
Of course, this isn’t the first time legions of people flocked online to spew hatred over Charlie Kirk’s name. A few months ago, even huge corporations weren’t spared the backlash, even for something as innocuous as an anti-fascist promotion for Indiana Jones. As of now, Berdyck continues posting, insisting the harassment proves his point. “If one day I stop posting,” he wrote, “then you’ll know why.”
