Fact Check: Did Erika Kirk say that she wants a monument like that of Charlie Kirk?
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: As the statue of Charlie Kirk is reportedly set to be unveiled in New York City on the first anniversary of his shocking death, a rumor began circulating on social media platforms claiming that his widow and Turning Point USA (TPUSA) CEO, Erika Kirk, has said that she wants a similar monument, sparking mockery. Let us analyze and fact-check the claim.
Claim: Erika Kirk wants a similar statue to that of Charlie Kirk
Ahead of the slain conservative activist’s first death anniversary in September, viral rumors claim that Erika Kirk has expressed a wish to have a statue similar to that of her husband, which will be unveiled in New York.
“I deserve one too,” Erika allegedly said in response to the new Charlie Kirk monument, according to posts circulating on X.
The claim drew mixed reactions from online users, with many mocking her while a few others supported her demand, indicating that many believe the claim to be true. Meanwhile, a few remained skeptical and called for a fact check.
Fact Check: The claim originated as satire
However, the claim is false as there are no reports of the TPUSA CEO making such a remark. There are no social media posts, official statements, or announcements from Kirk’s widow or his organisation that support the claim.
A search on Google and other search engines for the claim showed no relevant results by prominent news media outlets, which won’t go unreported if true.
Additionally, the claim was posted by a popular satire account on X called ‘Hoops Crave,’ which describes itself in the bio as ‘Satire.’
Due to the lack of credible reports and the rumor’s source being a parody account, the claim is rated as false.
A fact check by Grok confirmed this, stating, “The post is a meme joking that she said she ‘deserves one too’ regarding a new monument/statue for Charlie. It’s a satirical commentary on her stepping into the spotlight and leading the organisation.”
Charlie Kirk statue planned for Times Square unveiling
The claim surfaced after an Italian-born artist named Sergio Furnari handcrafted a metal sculpture of Kirk and plans to reveal the statue in Times Square on September 10.
“You know, I’m a New Yorker, so Times Square is like La Piazza,” he said. “Everything happens in the city, in the center of the town.”
“It’s going to be in the middle of Times Square, the center of the universe,” Furnari said in one of his many Instagram posts about the statue.
