Podcaster Kyle Kulinski, known for his Secular Talk show, has become the center of a heated debate after sharing a controversial meme about Erika Kirk, the widow of the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk. On Halloween, Kulinski posted the meme to his half a million followers on social media, utilizing a modified image resembling a Spirit Halloween costume package, which depicted Erika Kirk with mascara running down her chest, clutching what seemed to be a bag of cash.
The false packaging branded her as a "fake grieving widow grifter," including "fake teardrops" and "skin-tight black leather mourning pants" as the contents of the costume. Since her husband's assassination in September, Erika Kirk has been publicly mourning, often seen crying at appearances. Following Charlie Kirk's death, she took on the role of CEO of Turning Point USA, the organization he founded.
The meme format employed by Kulinski is not new and has been used across the political spectrum to criticize and satirize public figures. However, the reaction to this particular post about Erika Kirk was predominantly negative. Conservative commentator Blaire White's reply encapsulated the widespread condemnation, stating, "No one is requiring you to mourn Charlie Kirk. They’re asking you not to be a satanic piece of sh*t who celebrates brutal murder." This response was among the top replies to Kulinski's post.
In addition, a counter-meme directed at Kulinski emerged, depicting him as a "garbage human" in a similar Spirit Halloween costume package design. Other users expressed their disdain with comments like "Awful. Shame on you" and "Wow, you're a horrible human being."
Charlie Kirk was assassinated while hosting an event for Turning Point USA at Utah Valley University. Since then, Erika Kirk has been active in leading the organization and has made multiple speeches at events. However, her public displays of grief have been questioned by some, with accusations of insincerity and exploitation of her husband's death for organizational growth and personal gain.
Kulinski doubled down with another meme referencing these accusations, insinuating Erika's grief stages included "Pyrotechnics, Merch, Podcasting, Grifting, and Acceptance." Variations of this critique have spread on social media, with TikTok comments mocking her mourning process.
The backlash against Erika Kirk's behavior is not exclusive to left-wing commentators. Right-wing podcaster Nick Fuentes also expressed skepticism about the authenticity of her grief and the organization's handling of Charlie Kirk's death.
While various individuals have faced job losses for disparaging comments about Charlie Kirk's assassination, Kulinski, as the owner of his podcast, does not face such risks. In response to the criticism, he posted a meme implying hypocrisy among right-wing audiences who previously defended edgy jokes, now taking offense when the subject matter shifts away from traditionally marginalized groups.
