Left-Wing Podcaster Sparks Outrage With Meme Mocking Erika Kirk as ‘Fake Grieving Widow Grifter’
A popular left-wing podcaster is facing intense backlash after posting a shocking meme that mocked Erika Kirk, the widow of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, labeling her a “fake grieving widow grifter.”
The meme, created in the style of the viral “Spirit Halloween” costume parody, was posted by Kyle Kulinski, host of the Secular Talk podcast, who has more than 500,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter). The image appeared to mock Erika’s public mourning of her late husband — and quickly drew outrage across the political spectrum.
The Controversial Meme
The now-deleted post featured what looked like a legitimate Spirit Halloween costume package, complete with the chain’s recognizable orange background and faux product description.
In the image, Erika Kirk is shown shedding exaggerated “fake tears,” with smeared eyeliner running dramatically down her body. The fake packaging described her outfit as “skin-tight black leather mourning pants” and included a bag overflowing with money — implying she was profiting from her husband’s death.
Kulinski’s post was immediately met with condemnation from figures across the political divide, with many accusing him of cruelty and poor judgment.
Widespread Backlash Across Ideological Lines
Criticism poured in from journalists, podcasters, and commentators of all backgrounds.
Anna Khachiyan, host of the Red Scare podcast, wrote:
“God, some of you are awful. I don’t know how you negotiate your love for your family and friends with your nihilistic contempt for your ideological enemies.”
Conservative columnist Charles C. W. Cooke called the post “extremely ugly behavior,” adding:
“You should feel ashamed of yourself.”
Author and commentator Carol Roth shared a similar sentiment:
“When one of your loved ones passes, someone will remind you of this. The only person this reflects poorly on is you.”
Even Colin Wright, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute, condemned the post, saying:
“Politics has rotted your brain and soul.”
As of now, neither Kulinski nor Erika Kirk have publicly commented on the controversy.
Tragedy Behind the Outrage
The outrage comes just weeks after the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk, the conservative influencer and founder of Turning Point USA, who was killed during an appearance on a college campus in Utah on September 10.
Following her husband’s death, Erika Kirk has stepped into his leadership role as CEO of Turning Point USA, vowing to continue his mission of engaging young Americans in conservative activism.
However, her public mourning — including emotional appearances at TPUSA events and interviews — has drawn mixed reactions.
Even some on the right, such as far-right podcaster Nick Fuentes, criticized TPUSA’s public displays of grief, calling them “gratuitous.”
“I really don’t like how [Turning Point USA] has been handling his death,” Fuentes said on his broadcast in late September.
Erika Kirk’s First Interview
In her first televised interview since the tragedy, Erika Kirk sat down with Fox News host Jesse Watters, where she broke down in tears after watching a tribute video of her late husband.
An excerpt of the emotional interview aired Friday, with the full version scheduled to air on “Jesse Watters Primetime” on Wednesday.
A Moment of Mourning Turned Political
What began as an online meme quickly turned into a national debate about decency, grief, and the state of public discourse.
Critics say the viral post represents the worst side of political tribalism — where empathy is lost in the rush to mock ideological opponents.
Regardless of politics, many agreed on one thing: turning a widow’s grief into a joke crossed a line that shouldn’t be crossed.
