A popular left-wing podcaster is being denounced on social media for posting an internet meme that depicts slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s wife as a “fake grieving widow grifter.”
Kyle Kulinsky, the host of the “Secular Talk” podcast who boasts half a million followers on X, was widely condemned on Saturday after he posted the image of a fake “Spirit Halloween” costume package with the nasty message and a photoshopped image of Erika Kirk.
The nasty image is a play on the popular internet meme showing bogus packaging from the holiday pop-up chain that appears to be the real thing, as it includes the famed orange background and description of the contents inside the packaging.
The meme is often deployed to mock public figures or current events.
In this case, Kulinsky posted a generated image that showed Erika Kirk shedding “fake tear drops” that caused the eyeliner to drip all the way down to her torso.
The image also shows Kirk wearing what it called “skin-tight black leather mourning pants” while she holds what appears to be a bag or a hat that is overflowing with cash.
Kulinsky’s post sparked fierce backlash, with fellow podcaster Anna Khachiyan commenting: “God some of you are awful. Idk how you negotiate your love for your family and friends with your nihilistic contempt for your ideological enemies.”
“This is extremely ugly behavior, and you should feel ashamed of yourself,” Charles C. W. Cooke, a conservative columnist, wrote on X.
Carol Roth, the author and commentator, wrote: “When one of your loved ones passes, someone will remind you of this.”
“The only person this reflects poorly on is you.”
Colin Wright, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute, wrote on X: “Politics has rotted your brain and soul.”
The Post has sought comment from Erika Kirk and Kulinsky.
Charlie Kirk, the conservative influencer and activist who co-founded Turning Point USA more than a decade ago, was assassinated during an appearance on a college campus in Utah on Sept. 10.
In the wake of his killing, Erika Kirk has stepped in to her late husband’s role of chief executive officer at TPUSA.
But some voices on both the left and the right have taken issue with the very public nature of her mourning, including frequent podcasting appearances as well as mass-audience TPUSA events replete with pyrotechnics.
Nick Fuentes, the far-right podcaster recognized as the leader of the “Groyper” movement made up primarily of young men who advocate for Christian nationalism and white nationalist ideas online, criticized Erika Kirk for her conduct in the wake of her husband’s death.
“I really don’t like how [Turning Point USA] has been handling his death. It’s gratuitous,” he said on one of his broadcasts in late September.
Erika Kirk sat down for her first televised interview with Jesse Watters of Fox News during which she broke down in tears after viewing a video of her late husband.
The full interview, an excerpt of which aired on Friday, will be broadcast on “Jesse Watters Primetime” on Wednesday.
Fox News shares common ownership with The Post.
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