Erika Kirk's Public Pivot From Grieving Widow to CEO Divides Celebrities
Following the assassination of her husband Charlie Kirk, Erika Kirk (formerly Frantzve) has taken up his mantle and continued his work.
Charlie died at 31 years old in September 2025, having been shot during a speaking event in Utah. He leaves behind Erika and their two children.
Right after Charlie passed away, the leadership of his organization, Turning Point USA, revealed that Erika had been "unanimously chosen" to be the new CEO. Erika then began a series of public media appearances which critics viewed with skepticism, suggesting she was resuming normal activities prematurely.
"Grief doesn't follow a straight path. One moment you might be on the floor, calling out Jesus's name between difficult breaths," Erika shared on Instagram in October 2025. "The next, you might be enjoying time with your children in the living room, surrounded by pictures of family, experiencing an intense feeling that feels like both divine intervention and poignant happiness."
Erika Kirk Comments on Speculation Surrounding Charlie Kirk’s Passing and Burial Arrangements
She added, "People claim time cures all wounds, but love doesn't seek healing. Love desires remembrance. It’s truly humbling to understand that this level of pain hasn't diminished my affection for my husband. Instead, it has strengthened and clarified it."
Read on to discover the reactions of various celebrities to Erika after Charlie's death:
Tim Allen
At a September 2025 tribute for Charlie, Erika disclosed that she had forgiven the individual responsible for shooting the conservative pundit.
"When Erika Kirk spoke the words about the person who murdered her husband: ‘That man… that young man… I forgive him.’ That moment impacted me profoundly,” the star of Shifting Gears, Tim Allen, posted on X. “For more than 60 years, I have struggled to forgive the person who killed my father. I will now speak those words as I write this: 'I forgive the man who killed my father.' Peace be with everyone.”
Allen's father, Gerald M. Dick, died in 1964 when Allen was 11, following a car crash caused by a drunk driver.
Christine Quinn
However, Selling Sunset alumna Christine Quinn expressed disapproval of Erika's quick return to public life and professional duties following Charlie’s passing.
“Erika Kirk appears to be everywhere except with her children,” Quinn commented on X in December 2025.
A social media follower responded to Quinn, stating, “Charlie advised women to remain home and raise their children, yet his wife is doing exactly the opposite.”
The real estate professional concurred with the comment, simply replying, “THIS.”
Jennifer Welch
Bravo personality Jennifer Welch labeled Erika an "absolute opportunist."
“You are an opportunistic phony who uses her femininity to disparage other women," Welch stated on her “I’ve Had It” podcast, criticizing Erika's recent advice to New York women to prioritize marriage over career ambitions. "You serve as a live example of why, first, people are turned off by Christianity, and second, why they dislike female hypocrites like you.”
Welch added, “For you to enter Manhattan and criticize women who fully understand the privileges that have enabled us to be heard... You are so disconnected from reality that you should return to the Turning Point echo chamber.”
Savannah Chrisley
Savannah Chrisley, a friend of Charlie's, remarked on her “Unlocked” podcast in September 2025 that Erika's memorial speech was reminiscent of a "Jackie Kennedy moment." (Former First Lady Jackie Kennedy Onassis was present when her husband John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963.)
“Erika exhibited incredible composure and was filled with God's love and grace,” Chrisley stated about Erika. “I cannot comprehend how she managed to do it. I don’t know how she stood there and praised our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, when her husband had just been assassinated publicly. I honestly don't believe I would have possessed the strength to do that.”
Megyn Kelly
Erika appeared alongside Megyn Kelly on Kelly's live tour in November 2025.
“The night was extraordinary,” Kelly posted on Instagram, accompanying the message with pictures from the event. “I'm excited to share this episode with you tomorrow, but for now, enjoy this glimpse!”
