On September 10, 2025, a seemingly routine order at an Office Depot store in Portage, Michigan, set off a firestorm that quickly spread far beyond the store’s walls. The Kalamazoo County Republican Party, preparing for a candlelight vigil to honor Charlie Kirk—the prominent conservative activist who had just been shot and killed at Utah Valley University—placed a request for printed posters and programs. What happened next ignited a national debate about customer service, political bias, and the limits of personal expression in the workplace.
According to reporting from multiple outlets, including Straight Arrow News and The Post, the order was refused by Beryl, the store’s print supervisor. The employee told the customers, “Yeah, so, we don’t print propaganda,” a moment captured on video and swiftly uploaded to social media. The video, posted by Michigan Forward Network and shared by attorney Matthew DePerno, shows Beryl and another employee explaining their refusal. When pressed about what made the posters propaganda, Beryl replied, “Because he’s a political figure,” before suggesting the matter could be taken up with the general manager on Monday.
Within hours, the clip had gone viral, racking up more than 4.4 million views by September 13, 2025, and sparking widespread outrage—especially from conservative circles. Calls for a boycott of Office Depot flooded platforms like X, with some users demanding that not only Beryl but also the store manager be fired. Others praised competing retailers, particularly FedEx, after it stepped in and offered to print the vigil posters for free, a gesture that was repeatedly highlighted as a positive contrast to Office Depot’s initial refusal.
The posters at the center of the controversy bore the phrase, “The Legendary Charlie Kirk 1993-2025,” above a black-and-white image of Kirk, who was 31 years old at the time of his death. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, had been shot and killed on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University in Utah. The suspected shooter, Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested in connection with the incident. Kirk’s death reverberated throughout conservative and political communities, with vigils and tributes planned across the country.
Office Depot’s corporate office, headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, responded rapidly to the intensifying backlash. In a series of statements released between September 13 and 14, the company expressed regret and took responsibility for the incident. “The behavior displayed by our associate is completely unacceptable and insensitive, violates our company policies, and does not reflect the values we uphold at Office Depot,” the company wrote. “We sincerely apologize to the customer affected and to our community for this regrettable situation.”
Office Depot confirmed that the employee involved was terminated after an internal review. “Upon learning of the incident, we immediately reached out to the customer to address their concerns and seek to fulfill their order to their satisfaction. We also launched an immediate internal review and, as a result, the associate involved is no longer with the organization,” the company stated. The company further pledged to reinforce training for all staff to ensure standards of respect, integrity, and customer service are upheld at every location, promising, “Our customers and communities deserve nothing less.”
Despite these corrective actions, Office Depot continued to face criticism online. Some users called the company’s response too slow or inadequate, while others insisted that the episode revealed deeper issues of political bias in corporate America. “The manager at Office Depot that refused to print a Charlie Kirk poster should be fired along with the print supervisor,” one commenter wrote. Another added, “I think it’s time that we do not shop at Office Depot anymore. Thank you.”
FedEx’s offer to print the vigil posters free of charge was widely celebrated, with one social media user remarking, “Kudos to FedEx for making posters for FREE, for a Charlie Kirk vigil, after Office Max/Office Depot refused saying it was political propaganda.” The move by FedEx not only provided a practical solution for the event organizers but also served as a public relations win, contrasting sharply with the negative attention Office Depot was receiving.
The incident also occurred amid a broader climate of heightened scrutiny over how individuals and businesses respond to polarizing political events. According to Straight Arrow News, several people—including a journalist, a comic book writer, and an NFL team employee—lost jobs or opportunities in the aftermath of Kirk’s death due to social media posts that were seen as mocking or celebrating the killing. A website called “Expose Charlie’s Murderers” even emerged, aiming to identify and get employees fired for sharing controversial posts about Kirk. The site’s creators boasted, “This is the largest firing operation in history.”
For many, the Office Depot episode raised questions about the boundaries between personal beliefs and professional responsibilities. Was the print supervisor’s refusal an act of conscience or a violation of workplace policy? Could a company be expected to accommodate every request, regardless of political content? And what obligations do businesses have to their customers in a deeply divided society?
Office Depot’s official line was clear: employees must not let personal or political views interfere with customer service. “We are committed to reinforcing training with all team members to ensure our standards of respect, integrity, and customer service are upheld at every location,” the company emphasized in its statements. The swift termination of the employee served as a warning that refusing service on political grounds could have immediate and severe consequences.
Yet, the story also highlighted the power of social media to shape outcomes. What might once have been a minor dispute between a customer and a store employee quickly escalated into a national controversy, driven by viral video and the amplifying effects of online outrage. The rapid response by Office Depot—issuing apologies, firing the employee, and promising reform—underscored the pressure companies face to act decisively in the digital age.
As the dust settles, the Portage, Michigan, Office Depot store finds itself at the center of a broader conversation about free speech, corporate responsibility, and the complexities of serving a politically diverse public. The incident serves as a reminder that, in today’s hyper-connected world, the actions of one employee can have far-reaching consequences—and that companies must be prepared to navigate the turbulent waters of public opinion with care and consistency.
For the family, friends, and supporters of Charlie Kirk, the focus remains on honoring his memory and legacy. For Office Depot and other businesses, the lesson is clear: respect, integrity, and service aren’t just corporate buzzwords—they’re essential to maintaining trust in an era when every interaction can become tomorrow’s headline.
