Studying Time: 3 minutes
Within the weeks after Charlie Kirk was shot and killed throughout a talking engagement, nearly each main media determine felt compelled to touch upon the state of affairs.
One such determine was Jimmy Kimmel, whose joke in regards to the politicization of the homicide ruffled feathers inside the Trump administration.
Kimmel was suspended by ABC after FCC Chair Brendan Carr publicly threatened the community’s father or mother firm, Disney, with retribution.
The host was finally reinstated, however the debate over his remark continues — and now, Charlie’s widow, Erika Kirk, has damaged her silence on the topic.
Mrs. Erika Kirk wipes away tears in the course of the memorial service for her husband, political activist Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Picture by Eric Thayer/Getty Photos)
Kimmel controversy continues as Erika Kirk rebuffs apology
On Monday, Kirk participated in her first sit-down interview since her husband’s demise.
“I told them thank you we received their note. This is not our issue. It’s not our mess,” Kirk informed Watters.
“If you wanna say I’m sorry to someone who’s grieving, go right ahead. But if that’s not in your heart, then don’t do it. I don’t want it. I don’t need it.”
Jimmy Kimmel attends “Jeff Ross: Take A Banana For The Ride” Broadway Opening Night time at Nederlander Theatre on August 18, 2025 in New York Metropolis. (Picture by Michael Loccisano/Getty Photos)
In his first post-suspension monologue, Kimmel did categorical regret to anybody near Charlie who might need been offended by his remarks.
However he additionally identified that his joke was in regards to the political response to Kirk’s homicide, not the homicide itself.
“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang trying to characterize this kid who killed Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel mentioned on the September 15 episode of his present.
Kimmel’s remarks ignited an surprising firestorm of controversy, as many observers argued that the Trump administration had trampled on the comedian’s First Modification rights by pressuring his employers.
Erika Kirk joins U.S. President Donald Trump onstage in the course of the memorial service for political activist Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Picture by Win McNamee/Getty Photos)
Even rightwing politicians like Ted Cruz criticized the Trump administration for violating Kimmel’s proper to free speech.
Elsewhere within the interview, Kirk was requested if her daughter continues to ask the place her father is.
“Yes. My daughter continues to ask. But it’s really sweet because I keep explaining to her a few things,” Erika mentioned.
“And I said, ‘If ever you want to talk to daddy, you just look up to the sky and start talking to him. He can hear you,’” she continued, including:
“I told her, I said, ‘You know, daddy, daddy is in heaven.’ She goes, ‘You think I could go sometime?’ I said, ‘Baby, we will all go one day. We will all go one day.’”
Erika beforehand made headlines when she spoke at Charlie Kirk’s memorial and revealed that she had forgiven her husband’s killer.
