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By Jenni Fink and Gabe Whisnant
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Erika Kirk spoke publicly for the first time about the conspiracy theories surrounding the death of her husband, conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, denouncing any speculation as hurtful and unfounded, during an interview on Fox News Channel’s Outnumbered.
Kirk said she would “never back down” in defending her family and her late husband’s legacy. She said she wants space to grieve with her children and protect her husband’s resting place, adding that her silence in the face of conspiracy theories should not be mistaken for complicity. She added that the speculation has hurt the people closest to her and insisted she is “done” allowing unfounded claims to go unchallenged.
Why It Matters
Charlie’s death has sparked a slew of conspiracy theories, ranging from who was involved in his death to his remains. Some of those theories have been pushed by people close to Charlie, including Candace Owens, who was a good friend of his before his death. Owens has accused the federal government of tampering with the investigation into Charlie’s death and the military's involvement.
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Officials have said the suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, acted alone.
What to Know
Erika told Faulkner that she doesn’t have time to “address the noise” when asked about the conspiracy theories surrounding her husband’s death. But, she said her silence doesn’t mean she’s “complacent” or that somehow TPUSA is “somehow in on it.”
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Erika acknowledged that some of the people spreading the theories are those who are grieving the loss of Charlie and that she understands wanting to find an answer to “something that happened that was so evil.” She said she’s doing the same, and every lead or tip they get, they send to the authorities to investigate.
“But when you go after my family, my Turning Point USA family, my Charlie Kirk show family, when you go after the people that I love, and you're making hundreds and thousands of dollars every single episode going after the people that I love, because, somehow, they're in on this, no,” Erika said.
Owens has publicized a number of theories about Charlie's death. Those she's accused of being involved with include pro-Israel people, people involved with TPUSA and Charlie's podcast, French President Emmanuel Macron, and, most recently, the military.
Erika's also faced an onslaught of criticism for how she's acted in the wake of her husband's death. Images of her embracing Vice President JD Vance at a TPUSA stop at the University of Mississippi went viral. She's also been criticized for what she's worn in the aftermath of her husband's death, and Jennifer Welch, a liberal podcaster, called her a "grifter."
"If you want to find and pick me apart, go right ahead. I do not care," Erika said. "But I have seen it firsthand impact the people that I love. And I'm done. I'm done. And if people think that I was just going to wilt away, I'm not going to sit in a corner and cry and be in fetal position. This is a duty to my husband. And it's an absolute honor. And I will never back down."
Where is Charlie Kirk Buried?
It’s unclear where Charlie will be buried, but Erika told Faulkner that her husband’s gravesite will be public and “for the world to see.” She said his grave will be “museum style” and asked people to respect it because she wants “one thing left that is sacred” to their family.
“Can my babies have one thing where we hold it sacred, where my husband is laid to rest, where I don't have to be worried about some secular revolutionary coming and destroying my husband's grave while my daughter is sitting there praying?” Erika said.
Where Did Charlie Kirk Get Shot?
Charlie was shot at a TPUSA debate event at Utah Valley University. He was shot in the neck just before 12:30 p.m. local time, about 20 minutes after the event began. He was quickly taken to the hospital but was pronounced dead later that day.
Was Erika Kirk With Charlie in Utah?
Erika was not with Charlie in Utah when he was shot. In her first interview after Charlie’s death, Erika told Jesse Watters on The Charlie Kirk Show that she was at a doctor’s appointment for her mother when she got news that Charlie had been shot. She said she ran out of the treatment center and “collapsed in the middle of the parking lot.”
She said she called their security and told them to get the kids because her husband had been shot.
What They're Saying
Erika, in her Fox News interview: “No rock will be unturned. I want justice for my husband, for myself, for my family more than anyone else out there.”
Owens in a series of posts on Instagram: “It feels like today will be the day that the government can no longer deny it. Charlie Kirk was assassinated and our military was involved.”
What Happens Next
Robinson was charged with aggravated murder and prosecutors intend to go for the death penalty. A judge recently ruled he’s allowed to wear street clothes during his trial and is due in court on January 16.
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