Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
Entertainment
Analice Couto

20 Memes That Reflect Erika Kirk’s Public Image 4 Months After Charlie’s Assassination

Erika Kirk Charlie Kirk Assassination Turning Point United States

Since right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated last September, his widow, Erika Kirk, has stepped into a leadership role within his organization, Turning Point USA, sparking debate over how she has handled her newfound public exposure.

Ten days after a bullet fatally struck Charlie’s neck in front of a crowd of 3,000 students, a memorial service was held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. 

During the event—attended by an estimated 70,000 mourners—Erika made a dramatic entrance onto the stage that featured pyrotechnics, leading many to question why the memorial did not keep a more somber tone. 

Criticism over this perceived lack of seriousness has since spread online following several public appearances Erika has made as CEO of Turning Point. 

While she has framed her decision to speak publicly as a way to carry on her late husband’s legacy, critics have accused her of turning her grief into a spectacle for personal or professional gain. Others have made harsh comments about her image or mocked her appearance.

The backlash intensified when the 37-year-old had a slip of the tongue at a Turning Point event in December, saying Charlie persevered with “grift” instead of “grit.”

Below is a compilation of memes about Erika Kirk that reflect how she’s perceived four months after her husband’s assassination.

#1 Accusations of fake-crying

© Photo: DeckardR_B26354

#2 "Erika Kirk looks exactly like the Bride of Chucky"

© Photo: MAVERIC68078049

#3 "What's next?": Coldplay concert with JD Vance

© Photo: SwordTruth

#4 "There is, in fact, a wrong way to grieve"

© Photo: ImGinnyRobinson

#5 M3gan

© Photo: Jennfrnklnnc81

#6 Amber Heard’s testimony

© Photo: MPeperkampmarg3

#7 "Welcome to my husband’s memorial"

© Photo: gdalton64

#8 "The resemblance is crazy"

© Photo: theViraldave

#9 "South Park" Erika

#10 Miss Piggy: criticism of the "Mar-a-Lago" look

© Photo: CrossTheMercy

#11 "The grift of the Bride of Chucky"

© Photo: Adam_and_EVs

#12 "Erika Kirk grieving"

#13 Patrick Star

#14 "When you are right, you are right": some used AI to mock Erika

© Photo: Michael80543732

#15 "Why TF does Nicki Minaj now have the Erika Kirk eyes?"

© Photo: __onikaspen

#16 Squidward show

#17 Turning Point Tour

#18 "Erika Kirk’s Instagram post vs. Charlie Kirk’s"

© Photo: ImGinnyRobinson

#19 "Turning grief into merch?"

#20 "Why are they so obsessed with sparklers and pyrotechnics?"

© Photo: Pleightx

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Netflix Just Quietly Released The Most Delightful Murder Mystery Of The Year
Netflix's next biggest star may be a 1920s socialite with a penchant for deduction.
Inverse
Inverse
Is It Actually Okay to Store Food in Plastic Containers? The Experts' Verdict and the (More Aesthetic) Alternatives They Recommend for Kitchen Storage Instead
While the internet is convinced that plastic food containers are health hazards, the truth may be a bit less clear-cut. I asked the experts to lay it all out
Livingetc
Livingetc
Texas woman buys Great Value Sugar from Walmart. She wasn’t prepared for it to come with a side of microplastics: ‘Buyer beware’
A TikTok content creator found some strange-looking granules in her bag of Great Value brand pure, granulated sugar. When she looked closer, she realized that the granules may not be slightly larger sugar clumps. Instead, it looked like small microplastics.
The Mary Sue
The Mary Sue
Why are human penises so large? New evolutionary study finds two main reasons
“Size matters” sounds like a tabloid cliché, but for evolutionary biologists the size of the human penis is truly a puzzle.
The Conversation
The Conversation
It’s already yesterday again: the 20 best time-loop movies – ranked!
From commuters reliving disaster to teens stuck in deja vu – the time-loop movie turns repetition into revelation. We round up the best of this oddly resilient subgenre
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
K-pop supergroup BTS set to trigger US economic boom with tour: ‘Every stop is going to see a boost’
As the band prepares to tour, economists say pent-up global demand could reshape how concerts boost city economies
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play