Raised in a conservative household in Colorado, his eventual shift to progressive causes made him a unique voice. Unlike some activists who grew up immersed in liberal politics, Withers’ perspective came from lived experience on both sides of the divide. That background made his public exchanges with Kirk particularly compelling for audiences — two figures separated by age but united in their willingness to spar in front of massive crowds.

After Kirk’s death, Withers went live to process his emotions. The moment quickly spread across social platforms: his voice breaking, his eyes red, openly admitting he had cried in front of a quarter of a million viewers. In an internet culture where toughness and cynicism often dominate, his vulnerability stood out.

“Gun violence is always disgusting, always vile, and always abhorrent,” he told his viewers. The words echoed beyond his typical audience, picked up by mainstream outlets and reshared even by those who had once clashed with his politics. The video itself has now been seen more than 10 million times.