On September 10. 2025, Charlie Kirk was shot to death during an appearance at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. In a new guest column published in The New York Times, his widow, Erika Kirk, detailed the aftermath of her husband’s death. However, now, she is being brutally slammed on social media.
Erika Kirk has made many public appearances since the tragic death of her husband, Charlie Kirk, who was gunned down during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley College last year.
The widow of the political influencer made her first appearance just days after her husband’s death, announcing that she would take over as CEO of Turning Point USA, the organization Charlie created.
However, in the year since his passing, Erika has become the center of attention for many negative reasons. Some have accused her of profiting from her husband’s death. Moreover, for example, during his memorial service in Arizona, when she arrived on stage with fireworks around her, some questioned whether she was actually in mourning or not.
The one-year mark of Charlie Kirk’s death is approaching. On September 7, The New York Times published a guest column written by Erika Kirk in which she detailed the aftermath of her husband’s death and how she has dealt with the grief while taking care of her children.
Erika Kirk slammed after revealing devastating moments after Charlie’s passing
Of the days just after Charlie’s death, Erika wrote, “The past 24 hours feel like a fever dream as I land in Phoenix from Utah and return home. I get out of the car, and my kids run into my arms. They have no idea where I was or what I was doing. They care only that I am home.”
She continued, “As I walk to the front door, there’s a tightening in my chest I don’t recognize. Is this what grief feels like? I sit on the couch where Charlie sat two nights ago watching the Cubs with our kids. I feel a wave building inside me, and I know it’s about to crash.”
Erika Kirk continued by sharing that she eventually found the “courage” to walk into her and what was Charlie’s bedroom. As she entered, she “stared at his pillow and wondered how long a person’s scent can last in sheets.”
Even so, Erika avoided the bedroom for months, telling herself that it was OK “co confront the pain gradually and tp sit with each memory as it came to me.”
She further wrote, “Grief is strange. Time continues even when every part of you wants it to pause or, better yet, rewind.”
“But the people we love who have passed on would not want us to spend the rest of our lives trying to rewind.”
“Getting ready to bring the fireworks out again”
The New York Times column sparked many reactions on social media. Many decided to scold the widow of Charlie Kirk for her words, brutally slamming her for not being fully honest.
“She’s getting ready to bring the fireworks out again,” one person said.
“Is she gearing up for an anniversary tour?” another asked.
A third said, “Like the part where she put on a sparkly pantsuit and walked onto the stage under fireworks? Was that one of the devastating moments?” while a fourth added, “Here we go again: the tissue-wiping, dry-eye tour.”
Still, others defended Erika Kirk, with one writing, “It’s so crazy to me how everyone can come down on her for the way she’s grieving. I am a widow, and I can honestly say I went insane for three days.”
A second wrote, “Each of us loses people. Many will lose a life partner. I can’t imagine how difficult it is.”
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