Fact Check: Did Erika Kirk order removal of The Charlie Kirk Show as claimed by Candace Owens?
WASHINGTON, DC: Amid the controversy surrounding the claims made by conservative commentator Candace Owens, a new claim alleges that Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, ordered the removal of her late husband’s show from major streaming platforms. Let us analyze the basis of the allegation and fact-check it.
Claim: Candace Owens claims Erika Kirk ordered the removal of The Charlie Kirk Show
Not to be awkward but regarding your instruction that we should watch Charlie’s old content to see how he felt…
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) February 15, 2026
One of the early actions his wife took as the new CEO was to have ALL of the Charlie Kirk Show episodes removed from Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.
This was done less… https://t.co/J2ddLze1ln
According to Owens, shortly after Erika Kirk assumed a leadership position at Turning Point USA after her husband's passing, the podcast archive vanished from YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Owens questioned whether Erika ordered the removal of The Charlie Kirk Show.
Candace Owens suggested the removals were unlikely to be random.
Owens wrote online, “Not to be awkward, but one of the early actions his wife took as the new CEO was to have ALL of the Charlie Kirk Show episodes removed from Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.”
She said that when multiple platforms took down the same content at the same time, it "strongly suggested organisational direction."
Owens didn't back down when a user told her she had given 'zero evidence.' She didn't say that, though; instead, she said the timing was right, and the situation raised fair concerns.
Fact Check: No evidence to say Erika Kirk ordered the removal
People quickly checked for themselves, and many confirmed that full past episodes are no longer available on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. The show doesn't have many videos on YouTube either, and the full archives are missing.
But episodes are still available on Rumble and the official Turning Point USA website. So the show has not vanished. But the question about who made the decision and why remains.
As of now, there is no verified proof showing that Erika Kirk directly instructed Spotify, Apple, or YouTube to remove the podcast.
None of the three platforms has released a public statement explaining the change. Turning Point USA has also not issued a detailed clarification about who requested the removal.
Erika Kirk has not addressed Owens' most recent remarks in public. While there is ongoing discussion about who controls its distribution and why it left popular streaming services, the podcast is still accessible on other platforms for the time being.
Candace Owens' earlier attacks against Erika Kirk
Owens, who is known for peddling conspiracy theories, including about the death of Charlie Kirk, has attacked Erika on various occasions.
Recently, Owens linked Erika's name to an alleged grooming message from 2014 involving a 15-year-old, which quickly spread online.
Earlier, Owens released a leaked recording of a private call where Erika is heard excitedly talking about Turning Point USA’s high merchandise sales just 11 days after his assassination.
Owens criticised the widow for being 'extraordinarily upbeat' and laughing while discussing business metrics so soon after the tragedy.
