Sabrina Messa, a Canadian citizen living in the U.S. on a visa, says she has lost her job and received a removal order requiring her to leave the country by Monday, following public backlash over social media posts she made about Charlie Kirk’s assassination and images of people standing on the American flag. Messa has apologized for both sets of posts and says she will not contest the removal order.
A social media controversy has cost Sabrina Messa her job and, by her own account, her ability to stay in the United States.
What Messa Says Happened
Messa, a Canadian citizen who describes herself online as a proud Canadian “TEMPORARILY in the US” based in Los Angeles, said this week that she was fired “with cause” and received a notice of removal from the country tied to posts she’d made involving images of the American flag being stepped on.
“I am not fighting the removal order. Neither is my sister. We will be leaving this Monday,” Messa wrote.
She also said the backlash had extended well beyond her job and immigration status, telling followers she had been doxxed and was receiving threatening calls and messages. “Please stop and let’s move on,” she wrote, later asking whether anyone knew of immigration law firms in the Los Angeles or Southern California area.
The Posts at the Center of the Controversy
The backlash followed posts Messa made after the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, including memes about his death that critics called insensitive. Messa also faced criticism for photos showing herself and others standing on the American flag, and for a history of combative posts criticizing the United States, former President Donald Trump, and MAGA supporters using harsh and, at times, vulgar language.
Messa apologized for both categories of posts in a series of statements.
“Yesterday, I posted memes about Charlie Kirk that were insensitive and disrespectful to his family. For this I sincerely apologize. My intent was never to cause harm to anyone,” she wrote. On the flag photos, she added: “I am sorry for this as well. It was in poor taste and I fully accept responsibility for this.”
She closed one message by saying that despite her differences with American political views, the public response had shown her that “Americans are a kind and proud people.”
Government Context
Messa’s situation comes amid a broader effort by U.S. officials following Kirk’s 2025 killing. The State Department has said the United States “has no obligation to host foreigners who wish death on Americans” and indicated it would work to identify visa holders who “celebrated” the assassination. It’s unclear from Messa’s own statements whether her removal order was issued in direct connection with that effort or through a separate process.
What’s Next
Messa says she and her sister plan to leave the United States on Monday and are not contesting the government’s decision. She has asked the public to stop contacting her, saying the volume of messages and threats she’s received has become overwhelming.
