The nation is in shock and is suffering from the increase in shooting incidents following the terrible political assassination of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.
But his widow, Erika Kirk, has also been the target of an unsettling wave of internet harassment as a result of the incident. After Charlie was shot dead while speaking to about 3,000 students at Utah, cruel and offensive remarks deluged Erika’s social media accounts.
At around 2:20 p.m. (EDT) on September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk was shot in the neck while speaking to students at Utah Valley University as part of his “American Comeback Tour.” As terrified pupils scatter all around, disturbing footage from the situation shows Charlie clutching his neck in agony before collapsing.
Erika Kirk, wife of Charlie Kirk, posted a Bible verse just hours before he was shot at a Utah event:
“Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
God please save the man because of this prayer pic.twitter.com/9xb9Ba7lVR
— Houston Flosh 🇻🇦 (@idolo4crypto) September 10, 2025
The tragedy surrounding the death of 31-year-old Kirk has taken a more sinister turn on the internet, as his distraught widow, Erika Frantzve Kirk, has been subjected to cruel harassment on her social media accounts while the gunman is still at large.
Netizens are appalled by the inconsiderate trolling, as the 36-year-old former Miss Arizona is going through one of the most difficult times in her life due to Charlie’s death.
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Erika lost the love of her life and the adored father of their two toddlers less than twenty-four hours ago. She has yet to formally remark on Charlie Kirk’s passing as she attempts to come to terms with this unthinkable loss. However, some social media users have been deluged with hateful comments about Erika’s husband’s passing instead of sympathy.
Among the thousands of encouraging and consoling comments on Erika’s most recent Instagram post, which was published three days ago, were scathing statements like “Good riddance,” “Karma is real,” and “Reap what you sow.”
“The world is a better place without your husband in it,” one user said. “Now your children have no father” was another commenter’s statement, which was followed by multiple laughing emoticons.
This is the @TheDemocrats reaction to Charlie Kirk, a husband and father of two getting shot in Utah at a campus event.
Democrats are the party of violence. https://t.co/vcMxNZA4Nw
— Dr. Gay Russian Bot (@overitall69) September 10, 2025
Some people even shared GIFs that contained subliminal threats, including gun movements and phrases like “You are next.” “And now, officially Single Mother, congratulations, haha,” wrote one internet user. Others were outraged, accusing opponents of condoning political violence after some even went so far as to post “LOL” comments and make fun of Erika because her husband’s body was hardly cold.
Users who were sympathetic to Charlie Kirk’s bereaved family, particularly Erika and her two young children, left many remarks amid the hate. One user wrote, “I hope you and your babies are surrounded by nothing but love and cradled with care.”
A second netizen commented, “You are not alone. Jesus is with you in this terrible, hard time.” Another user stated, “Violence is never an answer. I may not have agreed with Charlie politically, but no family deserves this pain.”
