Erika Kirk pushes back against Candace Owens peddling unfounded claims surrounding Charlie's death

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and CEO of Turning Point USA, publicly addressed comments by Candace Owens regarding conspiracy theories about her husband’s death. 

During a CBS News town hall interview aired on Saturday, December 13, Erika delivered a direct message to Owens and others who are spreading unfounded claims.

The confrontation unfolded months after Charlie was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, stirring controversy among political commentators and within conservative circles. 

Erika Kirk responds to Candace Owens

CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss highlighted Owens' history with TPUSA, "The podcaster Candace Owens, at one time a friend of Charlie's, at one time an employee of Turning Point."

Then Weiss went further and claimed, "She has been one of the main peddlers of these conspiracies, and she is making a huge amount of money on it. She is building her business off of these lies." 

Weiss turned to Erika and asked directly, "What do you want to say to her and the other people that are putting these lies out into the world right now?"

To which Erika responded firmly, "Stop. That's it. That's all I have to say. Stop."

The question posed to her specifically referenced individuals making “unfounded claims” about the circumstances surrounding Charlie’s death.

Erika also discussed her late husband, her ongoing journey through grief, her faith, and her perspective on the state of the American right.

This broader dialogue occurred just days after the posthumous release of Charlie’s book 'Stop, in the Name of God: Why Honoring the Sabbath Will Transform Your Life.'

In addition to commenting on conspiracy theories, the interview shared that the Treasury Department had sent Erika a letter confirming that none of the tax‑exempt organizations she now oversees are under investigation by the IRS.

Candace Owens raises questions over TPUSA finances

Owens and Charlie were once considered friends or close colleagues, with Owens describing their relationship as akin to a “brother and sister.”

She has been making claims suggesting conspiracy theories about Charlie’s killing, including allegations about fraud within TPUSA’s finances.

On November 18, Candace released a lengthy video on her YouTube channel in which she responded to content from a YouTuber associated with the channel Wolves and Finance.

In the video, Owens discussed the YouTuber’s assertion that TPUSA had concealed certain financial documents approximately four months before Charlie was shot dead.

Owens echoed the claim in her commentary, noting that the timing of the alleged actions appeared unusual. The YouTuber also alleged that roughly $8,560,625 had been transferred to a shell organization in 2024.

While Owens emphasized that these allegations were claims rather than established facts, she stated that they nevertheless “brought big questions.”

In the video, Owens said she believed TPUSA did not respond in the way a large organization typically would following the death of its leader.

She argued that it is “common sense” to first examine the individuals within a group when a leader is killed publicly. Owens also claimed that TPUSA behaved as though they knew “nothing.”