A public dispute between conservative podcaster Candace Owens and Erika Kirk, the CEO of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) and widow of Charlie Kirk, has escalated. The tensions stem from the September assassination of Charlie Kirk, and Owens recently shared an audio recording that has drawn significant attention.
Owens Shares Audio Recording
On Tuesday, January 27, Owens released an audio recording from her podcast of Erika Kirk speaking less than two weeks after her husband’s death. In the recording, Kirk expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump and TPUSA for organizing a memorial event for Charlie Kirk.
“I don’t even know where to begin,” Kirk stated in the audio. “The fact that we were able to pull off an event of a century, like, it’s just insane. We had over 275,000 people that attended and stadium overflow, west gate. Insane, you guys. And then you have, was it 100 million? We had thousands that were registered to vote. I think we’re at like over $200,000 for merch sales.”
Owens has publicly questioned the tone of the memorial, describing it as “off-putting” and noting the focus on attendance numbers and merchandise sales so soon after the tragedy. She stated, “It is the general tone that is off-putting. It is the laughter that is off-putting. Again, we are not even two weeks after watching her husband be assassinated, we’re talking about numbers and metrics that have been hit.”
Public Reaction and Ongoing Tensions
The disagreement between Owens and Kirk follows a previous four-and-a-half-hour conversation between the two, which initially appeared to ease tensions. However, Owens has continued to voice her concerns publicly.
Social media users have reacted strongly to the situation. One user, @TheDejaKing, posted on X, “when your husband gets k*lled right in front of you last week but the merch sales went crazy this week.” Another user, @LucaGuadagnegro, tweeted, “Dislike candace all you want but she was the only one mourning that man like a real wife would.” New York City Councilman Osse Chi also commented, suggesting that boasting about fundraising after a spouse’s death would warrant police attention.
Owens has stated she does not believe Erika Kirk was involved in her husband’s death, but remains critical of her response. As of this reporting, Erika Kirk has not publicly addressed Owens’ accusations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sparked the conflict between Candace Owens and Erika Kirk?
The conflict stems from tensions following the assassination of Charlie Kirk in September, and has been amplified by Owens’ sharing of an audio recording of Erika Kirk discussing the memorial event.
What did Erika Kirk say in the audio recording?
Kirk expressed gratitude for the memorial event organized by Trump and TPUSA, and highlighted the large attendance—over 275,000 people—as well as the number of voter registrations and merchandise sales.
Has Erika Kirk responded to Candace Owens’ criticism?
According to the reporting, Erika Kirk has not publicly addressed Candace Owens’ accusations.
Given the public nature of this dispute, and the strong reactions it has generated, it is possible that further statements will be made by either party. It is also likely that the conversation will continue to unfold on social media platforms. The situation could potentially impact the public perception of both individuals and the organizations they represent.
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