Erika Kirk, the widow of the late commentator Charlie Kirk, recently made a poignant appearance on a nationally televised CBS News Town Hall, sharing her deeply personal reflections on faith and the profound loss of her husband. The event, moderated by CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, was held before a live audience in New York City and served as the inaugural segment in a new series of CBS News town halls and debates. The broadcast aired at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on CBS, with an extended version subsequently made available on CBS News 24/7 and YouTube.
During the Town Hall, Kirk, 37, confronted those who had callously celebrated her husband’s death. Her response was direct and unwavering: “You’re sick.” She revealed that she had previously encountered disturbing social media comments and videos that mocked her husband’s tragic end.
A Mother’s Plea and a Call for Empathy
Kirk articulated the human cost of such cruelty, emphasizing her husband’s humanity and the devastating impact on their family. “He’s a human being,” she stated, her voice resonating with emotion. “Do you think he deserved that? Tell that to my three-year-old daughter.” She continued, her words sharp with condemnation, “You want to watch in high-res the video of my husband being murdered, and laugh, and say he deserves it? There’s something very sick in your soul, and I’m praying that God saves you.”
Following her powerful opening statement, Kirk engaged with questions from members of the audience. Among them was Hunter Kozak, a student who was reportedly the last person to interact publicly with Charlie Kirk before his death.
Addressing the Past, Embracing the Future
Kozak, a student at the university, posed a question to Erika Kirk about her husband’s final public message. The Town Hall also featured Robert Milgrim, whose daughter, Sarah Milgrim, a 26-year-old staffer at the Israeli embassy, was tragically killed in May outside the Capitol Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.
Kirk spoke with remarkable candor about her deliberate choice to forgive the individual accused of murdering her husband. She explained her reasoning, stating, “I chose forgiveness because it was the only way forward. I didn’t want to be defined by vengeance.” This profound decision highlights her commitment to healing rather than retribution.
The Internet’s Role in Dehumanization
Furthermore, Kirk articulated her belief that the internet has, in many ways, fueled a disturbing trend of cruelty by fostering a sense of dehumanization. “The internet has dehumanized people,” she asserted. Weiss then inquired about how Kirk processed the intense anger and the proliferation of conspiracy theories that emerged in the wake of her husband’s death. Kirk described how some media commentators attempted to frame the killing as either justified or staged, while others treated the tragedy as mere entertainment, further exacerbating the pain for those grieving.
The Town Hall generated considerable discussion online, with viewers taking to platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to share their reactions.
- One user described the event as “just…weird.”
- Another commenter expressed admiration for Kirk’s perceived honesty and noted, “Erika Kirk is on TV right now on CBS. She looks Demonic. Both hands covered in rings.”
- A third viewer criticized the perceived limitations of the discussion, stating, “Hey @cbs Erika is not answering any questions. She is not going to say anything against trump everything trump says is so important yet Erika will never say it is trump saying evil things what a waste.”
The Tragic Events of September 10, 2025
Charlie Kirk was tragically shot and killed on September 10, 2025, during a live speaking engagement at Utah Valley University. He had been on campus as part of his national “American Comeback” tour. Accounts from the event describe Kirk arriving in a white shirt emblazoned with the word “FREEDOM” and distributing red “Make America Great Again” and “47” baseball caps. Approximately 20 minutes into his presentation, he opened the floor for questions from students.
During the Q&A session, one student posed a question about the number of transgender Americans who had been mass shooters in the preceding decade. Kirk responded, “Too many.” The student then followed up by asking for the total number of mass shooters in America over the same period. Kirk, holding his microphone, inquired, “Counting or not counting gang violence?” It was at this moment that a single gunshot echoed through the venue. Paramedics arrived swiftly, but Kirk was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.