4 news outlets that promoted witchcraft ahead of Jezebel's 'Etsy witch' Charlie Kirk hex backlash
3. Time - Sept. 2, 2025
Juxtaposing the waning taboo surrounding witchcraft to the rise of illegal immigration enforcement actions by the Trump administration, Time published a piece titled “Rise of the Etsy Witch” just eight days prior to Kirk’s shooting, which offered a “brief history of witchcraft.”
With a nod back to the Salem witch trials of the late 17th century, Time's piece notes that while “hiring a witch was perceived to be an act against God,” that’s no longer the case.
Winding its way from the 19th century spiritism movement in Brazil to former first lady Mary Lincoln holding seances in the White House to communicate with her deceased son, the article highlights TikTok and other social media platforms as the driving force behind the mainstreaming of spiritism and witchcraft, even equating it to religious activity from God Himself.
“As the nation transitions out of wedding season into the fall, where witches will receive another boost of popularity in conjunction with Halloween, the practice of hiring a witch for services will remain,” the article states. “The Etsy witch is the latest iteration of people looking for assistance from the divine in a period of unrest.”
