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Last week, Erika Kirk took the stage at the University of Mississippi to introduce Vice President JD Vance.
Kirk is still mourning the death of her husband, Charlie Kirk, the controversial podcast host who was shot and killed during a conference in Utah in September.
But while Erika has mentioned her late husband’s life and work in all of her recent appearances, many have been put off by the idea of a newly widowed single mother booking speaking engagements and podcast appearances in the weeks following her partner’s murder.
Kyle Kulinski criticized for Erika Kirk meme
One of those critics is left-wing journalist Kyle Kulinski, who shared a meme last week that ruffled quite a few feathers.
The format will probably be familiar to any social media user:
A Spirit Halloween costume inspired by Erika’s public persona promises an accurate “fake grieving widow grifter” costume.
The costume includes “fake tears” and “tight black leather mourning pants,” the latter a reference to the outfit Erika wore when introducing Vance at Ole Miss last week.
Kulinski’s post was quickly criticized by many on the right who felt he was making light of Kirk’s death.
“Horrible. What a shame,” wrote one of those users, according to the daily mail.
“Wow, you are a horrible human being,” another added.
“No one is asking you to cry over Charlie Kirk. They are asking you not to be a satanic piece of shit who celebrates brutal murder,” wrote right-wing commentator Blaire White.
“The bar couldn’t be lower and it’s still too high for millions of you. Sick.”
Of course, White and others made similar jokes in the wake of other recent acts of political violence, including the attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi.
But since we live in the age of hypocrisy, a time when both parties criticize each other for behaviors they habitually engage in, no introspection occurs and the cycle continues.
Kulinski’s joke was certainly insensitive. However, it seems that it was not her intention to mock Charlie’s death, but rather to point out the strangeness of seeing Erika take the stage amidst the pyrotechnics so soon after her husband’s murder.
Perhaps there are too many nuances for such a delicate topic.
But the problem with our current political landscape is that there is no room for nuance in any topic, and the least generous evaluation of a person’s comments is also the most common.
