Kirk murder follows Jezebel curse story; Erika Kirk sought prayer before shooting
Megyn Kelly recounts Erika Kirk's fear after a Jezebel piece claimed witches were paid to curse her husband; Jezebel removed the post after the death.
Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was shot dead on the Utah Valley University campus, two days after Jezebel published a story alleging it had paid witches to curse him. Erika Kirk, 36, reportedly told Megyn Kelly that the couple was rattled by the piece and sought spiritual help the night before the killing.
Jezebel’s Sept. 8 article, titled “We Paid Some Etsy Witches to Curse Charlie Kirk,” described the author paying for witchcraft services on Etsy and speculated about real-world effects on Kirk’s life and public presence. After Kirk’s death, Jezebel issued a statement clarifying the timing of the post and announcing that it had been removed.
Kelly said Erika Kirk was “genuinely rattled” by the story and that the couple summoned a Catholic priest to undo the alleged curse the night before the shooting. The priest reportedly prayed with them at their home as a precautionary measure.
Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, has been a prominent conservative voice and a close ally of former President Donald Trump, known for mobilizing young voters and shaping campus political discourse. His death prompted renewed attention to the convergence of partisan media coverage and real-world violence, a topic frequently debated in U.S. political circles.
Jezebel’s response to the events included a statement emphasizing that the outlet does not endorse political violence and that the post’s timing was clarified and the piece was removed after the incident. The publication also reiterated its stance that it does not advocate harm, while describing the article’s provocative framing and its notes about the moral gray areas involved in cursing someone the author had never met.
Observers say the episode highlights how sensational online narratives can intersect with real-world events, underscoring tensions between media coverage, political advocacy, and personal safety in a highly polarized environment. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and officials have not tied the incident to the Jezebel piece or its content.