Arizona parents upset after teachers wear bloody white 'Problem Solved' t-shirts for Halloween—school district claims they weren't mocking Charlie Kirk's killing

An Arizona school district is facing backlash after posting a photo showing members of a high school math department wearing T-shirts that read “Problem Solved” with fake blood on the left side, a costume that parents interpreted as referencing the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.

The Vail School District, located near Tucson, shared a collection of Halloween costumes from its schools on Facebook, which included the controversial image. TPUSA spokesman Andrew Kolvet posted the image on X, saying concerned parents sent the organization screenshots, believing the image mocked Kirk’s death.

“Concerned parents just sent us this image of what's believed to be teachers in [Vail School District] in Tucson, Arizona mocking Charlie's murder with costumes that read "Problem Solved" and blood down the left side of their shirts,” Kolvet wrote. They deserve to be famous, and fired.”

The district deleted the images after the backlash and later released a statement identifying the staff as members of Cienega High School’s math department. It said the shirts were part of a math-themed costume that was also worn last year. Photos of the teachers posted by social media users appeared to confirm they were worn last year. 

“Any reference that these shirts were related to something other than that are simply false and untrue. The staff wearing them care deeply about children, most of them live in our community and have served families in Vail for many years,” the district said.

The statement continued, “We apologize that the wearing of these shirts caused concern and were upsetting to some. That was absolutely not the intent of those who wore them. We are sorry and the shirts will not be worn again. This is a hard lesson for all of us that more thought and care need to be taken in these times. Please know that lesson has been learned.”

The apology post was later removed from the district’s Facebook page as well. Similar “Problem Solved” shirts have also been available for purchase on Amazon prior to Kirk’s assassination and were available in 2024 for purchase. 

Arizona state Rep. Rachel Keshel has said, "We will be getting to the bottom of this." 

Since Kirk’s death, multiple incidents have surfaced of left-wing activists mocking his assassination. In one viral example last month, a protester at a “No Kings” rally was seen pretending to shoot herself in the neck with her fingers to imitate Kirk’s murder. It was later revealed that the woman was an elementary school teacher.