Social media is reacting to a certain photo of Charlie Kirk’s wife, Erika Kirk, crying mid-interview with Fox News’ Jesse Watters. In that particular image making the rounds, one will easily notice that Erika is obviously upset, with one hand placed on her chest as she is about to cry while explaining to her children that their father is no more; however, longer alive.
An X user named Political Punk sparked it all off with a harsh post that said, “I haven’t seen crying this fake since the Rittenhouse trial. Holy shit, this woman is a grifter.” This was accompanied by the famous screenshot of Erika in mid-cry, which sparked a range of reactions, from memetic lunacy to full-blown conspiratorial discussion about whether she was actually crying or just acting for the viewers.
“Not a Single Tear Running Down That Face”
The comments came in quickly and in large numbers. “When you can’t cry on cue, so you have to make a face like you’re about to sing your heart out,” said one viral tweet. Another one chimed in, “For someone who is crying, that face is SO DRY. She must have some powerful absorbent makeup.”
“I’ve yet to see this woman produce any tears,” said a third user. “Not a single tear running down that face lmfao,” was succinctly penned by one of the more ruthless posters.
But not everyone was laughing. Conservative users rallied around Erika, interpreting the backlash as just an expression of liberal intolerance. “Pretty much tells you where the left is,” one user posted. “The left is hateful and brainwashed. Nothing is real except their feelings,” another user agreed.
The Grief or the Grift
“It wasn’t long before the discourse swirled out of meme economy territory and into a realm of politics that is a Rorschach test. Erika Kirk is a widow in grief or a politician performing at a Fox News pity reception? In fact, she’s probably a mix of both,” Murphy argued.
“If you’re constantly booking national TV appearances and raking in millions after your spouse’s death, you’re 100 percent a creep; don’t walk with God. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk,” said another user.ED talk.”
What Really Occurred at Fox
During one of these appearances, Erika Kirk related how she was forced to explain to her children that their father was no longer alive. She choked back tears as she recounted how she struggled to be a source of strength to her children in that moment. Erika’s performance was sincere or insincere, depending upon one’s politics, and that’s just how it is in America’s outrage-industrial complex.
Media perception experts emphasize that, in the absence of tangible evidence, such as video documentation of tear-inducing machines or scripted content, all of this is subjective. Collective grief, including public grief broadcast through television, is often performative simply because it is amplified by TV.
