Widow says Jezebel curse-pay story rattled her two days before Charlie Kirk's death

Erika Kirk said she was genuinely rattled after a Jezebel article published Sept. 8 described how the author paid witches on Etsy to curse her husband, Charlie Kirk, two days before he was assassinated in Utah.

The Sept. 8 Jezebel piece framed the domestic controversy around Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, describing an online transaction for curses and labeling him a far-right misogynist for his public rhetoric. The article asserted that the author had purchased multiple curses on Etsy in an effort to punish Kirk for his years of political activity. The piece, which drew broad attention online, would become a focal point as the couple faced the fallout in the days that followed.

Two days later, on Sept. 10, Tyler Robinson, 22, fired a single fatal shot that pierced Kirk’s neck while he spoke to thousands at Utah Valley University in Orem during the first stop of his American Comeback Tour. Kirk, a father of two, died at the scene, casting a pall over a widely anticipated event and prompting attention to the interplay of online media, culture, and political life.

Megyn Kelly confronted the incident from a media-cultural angle on her SiriusXM program, denouncing Jezebel and Etsy for what she described as an unwarranted introduction of violence into a private family’s life. Kelly characterized the Jezebel piece as vile and demanded accountability, urging both outlets to issue public apologies to Erika Kirk and to reconsider policies that allow or encourage depictions of violence against public figures and their families.

Jezebel subsequently added an editor’s note to condemn the violence associated with the broader context, and, after backlash, removed the article from its site. Kelly pressed for transparency, asking that the outlet identify the reporter involved and calling on Etsy to stop enabling the sale of curses, arguing that arts and crafts should not intersect with spells that could harm real people.

The episode underscores a broader tension in contemporary culture coverage: how online journalism and fringe content influence real-world actions, particularly when political figures are involved. Erika Kirk, who publicly expressed gratitude for prayers from a Catholic priest in the hours before the tragedy, has said little beyond noting that the online narrative contributed to a difficult emotional period for her family. As discussions around media responsibility continue, the Kirk family’s experience has highlighted the potential consequences of sensational publishing and the ferocity of online discourse in shaping public perception and personal safety.

As authorities continue to assess the broader implications of the case, commentators and political observers alike are weighing the balance between aggressive media storytelling and the ethical boundaries of reporting on individuals linked to highly polarized public life. The tragedy has prompted renewed debates about the role of feminist outlets, social platforms, and marketplaces in shaping cultural narratives—debates that remain unsettled as families and communities seek answers, accountability, and healing.