Erika Kirk, the widow of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, says she doesn’t want or need an apology from comedian Jimmy Kimmel, whose on-air comments about killing her husband sparked a national outrage.
In an interview with Fox News, Erika Kirk said an apology should come “from the heart,” not out of compulsion or obligation.
“I responded through our team, ‘Tell them thank you, we got their message. This is not our problem, not our mess,'” she told Watters.
“If you want to say I’m sorry to someone who’s grieving, go for it. But if it’s not in your heart, don’t do it. I don’t want it. I don’t need it.”
Kimmel’s remarks spark backlash
In his September 15 monologue, Kimmel mocked conservative reactions to the assassination and suggested that Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was connected to the “MAGA gang.”
“We hit new lows over the weekend as the MAGA gang desperately tried to characterize the guy who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of their own,” Kimmel said.
The comments were met with immediate backlash, with critics accusing Kimmel of politicizing the tragedy.
The networks are pulling Kimmel’s show
Following this controversy, major broadcasters Sinclair Broadcasting and Nexstar Media Group – the two largest owners of ABC stations in the US – announced that they were temporarily pulling Jimmy Kimmel Live! out of the air.
Kimmel later came back with what many described as a “lukewarm” apology, expressing sadness at Kirk’s death but stopping short of an explicit “sorry.”
Charlie Kirk kills
Charlie Kirk, 31, was shot and killed on September 10 while giving a speech at Utah Valley University. The incident, which was caught on camera, sent shockwaves across the political spectrum and reignited debates about rising political violence in the US.
Accused and possible punishment
Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested days later and charged with murder and related crimes. Prosecutors in Utah confirmed he could face the death penalty by firing squad if convicted.
