A cake reading “Happy Kirkiversary” brought to a University of Utah College Republicans booth on Sept. 10 has spiraled into a doxxing investigation, a wave of online harassment, and a campus protest where students carried signs declaring that doxxing is not free speech. The University of Utah confirmed it is reviewing the circumstances, while student groups trade accusations over who exposed whose identity — and why.
A Cake, a Photo, and a Viral Post
According to ABC4 Utah, Riley Beesley, chairman of the Utah College Republicans, said a student approached the group's campus booth and posed for photos holding the cake, which mocked Charlie Kirk's assassination. The date, Sept. 10, marked one year since Kirk's murder. The Daily Utah Chronicle identified the student as Sara Larsen, reporting that she approached the group holding the cake that read “Happy Kirkiversary.”
Rylie Barnes, vice president of the University of Utah College Republicans, posted a photo of the cake online, and her X post drew 6.3 million views within three days, the Chronicle reported. The University of Utah's College Democrats accused College Republicans of public shaming, arguing the image of Larsen carried, in their words, the intention of public shaming and contributed to the harassment that followed. Beesley pushed back on that characterization, telling the student paper there had been zero requests to delete the post and that his group was not involved in any doxxing or harassment.
Apology, Denials, and a National Legal Threat
Larsen has since apologized for joking about the anniversary on the cake, according to The Salt Lake Tribune, which reported that Rudy Giuliani and others publicized her identity after the incident went viral. Separately, the University of Utah's Office of the Dean of Students alleged that Beesley himself attempted to publicly share another student's identifying information over a political issue, per the same ABC4 report. Beesley denied wrongdoing, saying he had not committed threatening or endangering behavior and arguing that people should not support or celebrate those celebrating murder.
Barnes also posted an email she said the school sent her regarding her own alleged involvement in doxxing another student. Both Beesley and Barnes have reported being contacted by the University of Utah about the cake incident. William Branson Donahue, national chairman of College Republicans of America, threatened legal action if any University of Utah students were sanctioned over the matter, ABC4 reported.
University Says It Is Weighing Speech Against Safety
The University of Utah confirmed on Monday that it was aware of activity from community members involving reported threats and harassment, and said it intends to support freedom of speech, even when that speech is controversial, according to the same ABC4 account. The school said it was working with the individuals directly involved while reviewing the circumstances consistent with university policy and applicable law, according to KUTV. The station reported the university's statement that freedom must coexist with the school's shared responsibility to protect the safety and well-being of others.
As of the ABC4 report, the University of Utah had not formally expelled or sanctioned any students in connection with the incident. The university also stated that calls to harm someone, electronic harassment, and the inappropriate sharing of information are not protected by free speech, while affirming that violence or threats of violence are unacceptable and upholding what it called the inherent dignity of all people. The school released an updated statement Wednesday condemning harassment and said it plans to ask representatives from Utah's Republican and Democratic parties to speak with student leaders.
Students Rally on Campus
University of Utah students protested on campus Wednesday, with one protest sign reading “doxxing is not free speech.” A student protester demanded that the university support students and said the university's code of conduct accepts all ideas and viewpoints. Some community members in the ongoing dispute have argued that failing to sanction the students involved would bend the rules and favor one side, while the university says it is trying to protect both freedom of expression and student safety as its review continues.
The clash unfolds against a backdrop of declining tolerance for controversial speech nationally. A 2026 survey of 68,510 students across 257 colleges and universities by FIRE and College Pulse found that acceptance of shouting down speakers, blocking access to events, or using violence to stop a speech all reached record highs, according to FIRE. That same survey found the average campus free-speech score was a failing 58.63, with 166 of the 257 schools receiving an F grade. Separately, FIRE has reported that Charlie Kirk's assassination generated a wave of censorship at American colleges, according to FIRE's rankings site.
