Erika Kirk has spoken out following controversy over a hug shared between her and Vice President JD Vance that some online deemed ‘inappropriate.’
In September, Charlie Kirk, a prominent figure, was tragically killed at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University, the organization he founded.
After his death, Erika Kirk vowed to carry on his mission, taking on the role of CEO for Turning Point USA. This decision has kept Erika in the public eye, often appearing at events alongside Vance.
One such event took place last month at the University of Mississippi as part of the ‘This Is the Turning Point’ tour, where Vance was featured. During the event, he joined Erika on stage, where they shared a hug before Vance addressed the audience.
The gesture became a topic of discussion due to Erika placing her hand on the back of Vance’s head, which some found unusually intimate.
Addressing the criticism, Erika spoke with Megyn Kelly over the weekend. “Whoever is hating on a hug, that needs a hug themselves, I will give you a free hug anytime you want a hug,” Erika commented.
She explained that such a hug is her ‘love language’ and provided context for the moment between her and Vance, which garnered significant attention.
“I’m walking over, he’s walking over, I’m starting to cry, he says ‘he’s so proud of you,’ and I say ‘God bless you,’ and I touch the back of his head,” Erika shared.
She continued, saying, “Anyone who I’ve hugged, I’ve touched the back of your head when I hug you, I always say God bless you. That’s just me. If you want to take that out of context, go right ahead. Again, that to me shows that you need a hug more than anyone else.”
Following this incident, Erika once again became a focal point online after receiving the inaugural Charlie Kirk Legacy Award at the Fox Nation Patriot Awards earlier this month.
The award, presented to Erika by country musician Jason Aldean and his wife Brittany, was accompanied by another noticeable embrace similar to the one shared with Vance.
On social media platform X, some users commented on the hug, with one stating, “It’s not a healthy way to hug someone. It’s overly familiar. It’s intimate. She has poor boundaries.”
Despite some criticism, other users defended Erika, supporting the Turning Point USA CEO and her expressions of comfort.