Wikipedia debates whether Charlie Kirk’s widow Erika deserves her own profile page

OREM, UTAH: A debate is raging over whether slain conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk’s widow deserves her own Wikipedia page.

Editors are locked in a heated battle over Erika Kirk’s profile, which appeared only after her husband’s killing and is currently behind Wikipedia’s page lock.

Arguments against separate Wikipedia page for Erika Kirk

Erika, who didn’t have a standalone page before the tragedy, was thrust into national prominence after Charlie Kirk was shot dead on Wednesday night while speaking at Utah Valley University. Her Wikipedia article went live by Thursday, September 11.

Editors quickly questioned whether it should exist at all.

“Article was created in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s killing yesterday, but coverage otherwise is either limited in nature (i.e., her participation in beauty pageants) or inherited from her husband," wrote one user, going by the handle “Epluribusunumyall."

Another argued Erika simply isn’t notable beyond being Charlie’s wife.

Critics point to Wikipedia’s strict rules, claiming Erika fails the “general notability guidelines,” lacks independent coverage, and shouldn’t inherit her husband’s fame.

Supporters insist on keeping Erika Kirk page

Other editors argue to keep her page, citing her emotional Friday night speech where she vowed to continue Turning Point USA’s campus tour. Charlie co-founded the conservative youth group in 2012.

One editor pushed back against calls to remove Erika’s page.

“Wikipedia looks ridiculous with a banner noting that this topic is being targeted for deletion," they wrote. "And it can’t be edited until Sept. 18? Again, ridiculous. She gave a speech Friday night, two nights after the murder, in which she forcefully declared her intentions to take the TPUSA movement forward. The clamps need to be removed.”

Another added, “This is ridiculous nitpicking. She is NOW notable, so she should now be included in Wikipedia. There are plenty of people highlighted in Wikipedia that are far from ‘notable’ as many would define it.”

Erika’s Miss Arizona win in 2012 has also been cited as a reason to keep her page.

Erika Kirk Wikipedia entry locked until September 18

For now, the entry is frozen until September 18. Wikipedia often locks pages caught in such debates.

Even though the majority of votes so far lean toward keeping it, insiders say it ultimately depends on whether administrators determine Erika has independent, significant coverage that meets Wikipedia’s standards.

This isn’t the first time Wikipedia has faced criticism for bias. Elon Musk criticized the platform in 2022 for debating whether to cut its “Twitter Files” page, while editors locked Hunter Biden’s laptop entry in 2020 just before the election.

Charlie Kirk was shot on Wednesday, September 10, in Orem, Utah, while addressing students. A single bullet struck his neck. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but did not survive.

Police said the shot came from a rooftop roughly 142 yards away. The alleged shooter, identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was arrested after the attack. A rifle believed to be the murder weapon was later found in nearby woods.

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