Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk was fatally shot on September 10 at Utah Valley University in Orem during his “The American Comeback Tour.” In the days following his death, false claims spread online suggesting that his wife, Erika Kirk, had filed a $40 million defamation lawsuit against ABC and The View.
One viral Facebook post declared, “Erika Kirk Drops $40 Million Defamation Lawsuit on ABC & The View. After weeks of vile smears against her late husband, Erika Kirk has drawn the line. She just filed a $40 million lawsuit against ABC and the hosts of The View, blasting their attacks as ‘shameful and disgusting.’ Her message is clear: ‘The days of slandering good people for ratings are over. From now on, they’ll be held accountable under the law.’”
Another post alleged, “Erika Kirk files $40M defamation lawsuit against ABC over Jimmy Kimmel’s malicious lies blaming MAGA for Charlie’s assassination—victim-blaming at its worst. Prayers for her strength; this holds the media accountable.”
The Truth
There is no evidence that Erika Kirk has filed any lawsuit against ABC or The View. She has not made such statements, and the rumor can be traced back to America’s Last Line of Defense, a Facebook network known for parody and satire content. These claims are entirely false.
Suspect Charged
Tyler Robinson, 22, has been formally charged with aggravated murder in connection with Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray announced the charges at a press conference and confirmed he intends to pursue the death penalty.
Erika Kirk, a devout evangelical Christian, has spoken publicly about her faith in the aftermath of her husband’s death. In an interview with The New York Times, she reflected on forgiveness and accountability:
“I’ve had so many people ask, ‘Do you feel anger toward this man? Like, do you want to seek the death penalty?’” she said. “I’ll be honest. I told our lawyer, I want the government to decide this. I do not want that man’s blood on my ledger.”
