Fact Check: Are rumors that Erika Kirk and Lane Kiffin are dating true?
PHOENIX, ARIZONA: A viral rumor has been circulating online claiming that Erika Kirk, the widow of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, is dating American football coach Lane Kiffin. This is one of the latest claims circulating online ever since the tragic death of her husband in September last year. Let us examine the rumors and fact-check them.
Claim: Erika Kirk and Lane Kiffin are dating
Lane Kiffin and Erika Kirk are reportedly dating. pic.twitter.com/yr89FPXDgj
— Shane Tuttle (@ShaneTuttleNCAA) January 15, 2026
The viral claim was first shared by a user on X named Shane Tuttle. He shared a photo of both Erika and Kiffin along with the caption, “Lane Kiffin and Erika Kirk are reportedly dating.”
Various claims that are not supported by evidence have circulated online about Erika, who is the CEO of Turning Point USA, following the fatal shooting of her husband, with the intention of defaming and discrediting the widow of Charlie Kirk.
Fact Check: No credible reports support the rumor
The viral post is not credible as it is not backed by any news articles or social media posts supporting the claim.
A search about the claim also does not produce any results about the claim being reported by any major news organizations, except for the viral X post.
Moreover, the bio of the X user also mentions, “Everything I do is Satire,” hence proving the claim to be false.
A fact check by Grok, the AI assistant of X, says, “No, this isn't true. The post comes from a satirical account, and my searches find no credible sources confirming Lane Kiffin is dating Erika Kirk (Charlie Kirk's widow). It's likely just a joke.”
Similar dating claim about Erika Kirk
Tom Brady and Erika Kirk are reportedly dating pic.twitter.com/G3HFGnWmQv
— Hoops Crave (@HoopsCrave) January 14, 2026
A similar rumor surfaced earlier on Wednesday, January 14, when X account @HoopsCrave posted pictures of Tom Brady and Erika Kirk, and wrote in the caption, "Tom Brady and Erika Kirk are reportedly dating."
The post did not have any news articles or social media posts backing the claim. The rumor was further shared by other X users.
The claims made in the online rumor are false, as there is no evidence to prove that Tom Brady and Erika Kirk are currently dating. The X account @HoopsCrave's post mentioned 'reportedly,' whereas there are no reports backing the rumor to be true.
