The Erika Kirk GoFundMe Controversy: Misinformation and My Response

This article grew out of a Facebook thread that began with a post calling Erika Kirk a “grifter” after GoFundMe accounts were created on her behalf, despite her husband reportedly being worth millions. I questioned whether Erika had actually set up the fundraisers herself (she hadn’t) and raised the point that similar outrage wasn’t shown when the family of Karmelo Anthony, the teen who killed another teen at a high school track meet, raised over a million dollars through GiveSendGo. For me, the issue was about consistency: donations, whether to a wealthy family or to the family of a criminal, are ultimately a matter of personal choice, not fraud.

The conversation quickly broadened. The original poster argued that Erika is complicit if she accepts the money and criticized Charlie Kirk as a right-wing opportunist spreading propaganda. I clarified that while I don’t agree with everything Kirk says, I value the discussions he sparks and believe disagreement should invite debate, not personal attacks. This article is my attempt to expand on that exchange and to share where I stand on feminism, conservatism, religion, and human rights, and why consistency and fairness matter in these conversations.

Throughout the article I have listed these 4 YouTube links to the clips that were given as references asking my stance on the subjects. I have included each link with its appropriate topics.

Social media is a Dark Place

Erika Kirk Controversy

An old family friend posted a picture of Erika Kirk crying, with a caption that read: “Why does a man’s wife do a GoFundMe when he’s worth $12 million? Grifting.”

It struck a chord with me. Regardless of what people may think of her husband’s politics, Erika Kirk is not a nobody. She’s a scholarly woman. A mother. A former Miss Arizona USA, a college athlete, currently studying for a doctorate in Biblical Studies. She’s the founder of Proclaim (a faith-based clothing line), the host of her own podcast, and the founder of two non-profit organizations. She is a successful woman whose husband was executed in front of thousands…MILLIONS, if you count the endless replays online.

I questioned if it was believed that Erika herself even set up these GoFundMe accounts. After doing my own research, it appears she did not. Others set them up to show their support. That makes this yet another example of false information being spread... dividing us more.

To engage a little further, I asked whether we hold the same outrage for Karmelo Anthony, who stabbed Austin Metcalf at a high school in April 2025. His family had a GiveSendGo raising over a million dollars in support, despite the fact that he murdered someone. Bringing this up wasn’t meant as deflection. It was meant as consistency. Nobody forced people to give to him either, and yet the money still came pouring in.

I see the term “grifting” being used here and honestly, I had to look it up. Grifting is defined as “engaging in petty or small-scale swindling.” In other words, it means tricking or scamming people out of money.

With that in mind, let’s be clear: the GoFundMe accounts for Erika Kirk and her family were not set up by her. They were created by third parties. And yet, I see people calling her a “grifter” because her husband was reportedly worth millions. I get why that raises eyebrows, but here’s the truth: crowdfunding isn’t about need, it’s about choice.

If someone worth millions receive donations, it’s because people freely chose to give. If a murderer’s family can raise over a million dollars in donations, it’s also because people freely chose to give. In both cases, nobody was forced.

Do I think it’s odd? Yes. Would I donate in either case? No. But it’s not my place to decide how others spend their money. That’s the nature of freedom. Sometimes it looks unfair, sometimes even ridiculous, but it’s still freedom.

What matters most to me is consistency. If we’re going to call Erika Kirk a “grifter,” we should also ask why violent criminals’ families are allowed to raise millions without the same outrage. Both situations highlight how messy America’s relationship with money, tragedy, and celebrity really is.

And if I am being honest, I think a lot of this outrage comes down to jealousy. People see that Erika has been gifted millions in support and they don’t like it. But that money wasn’t stolen or swindled. It was freely given by people who chose to show support.

 

Charlie Kirks Beliefs

Then came the bigger question: “Go watch the Charlie Kirk Show. There are hours of his right-wing propaganda. As a woman, what exactly of his do you agree with? Doesn’t he offend you? Where do his stats even come from?”

I have watched his videos. I have listened to his arguments. I have also read critiques, like the one I’m responding to now. My goal isn’t to defend or condemn every word Charlie Kirk has ever said but to share where I stand.

Feminism and How I Define It

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HEcEasH3dNE - Charlie Kirk Exposes Why Women Are So Miserable and Angry!

The textbook definition of feminism is the belief in equality of the sexes, especially in terms of rights, opportunities, and social standing. I agree with that. But I go further: human rights should be the backbone of this discussion.

Here’s how I view the three waves of feminism:

1. First Wave – Legal rights, especially the right to vote. Absolutely necessary.

2. Second Wave – Social, cultural, and workplace equality: equal pay, education, opportunities. Also a clear yes.

3. Third Wave – Personal empowerment. This one resonates with me. Women should have the freedom to choose their own path. If you want to raise children, do it. If you want to pursue a career, do it. Real equality means respecting both choices.

   
   

I don’t think feminism and conservatism really fit together. Conservatism often focuses on traditional roles like women staying home, men leading, and religion being the center of life. But that can clash with the idea of women having equal rights and opportunities. For me, it’s not about sticking to traditions, it’s about making sure human rights come first.

Where I Stand on Identity

Here’s where I might lose friends, but honesty matters. I believe there are males and females. I support people being heterosexual, gay, lesbian, or bisexual. I do not fully understand anything past that. Transgender is a touchy subject but I believe that they do not have a full understanding of their feelings and emotions, and instead of dealing with them, they choose to run away and be something else, because it is easier than dealing with the thoughts of your own mind.

This belief comes from my own lived experience. I’ve been battling serious depression over the last 2 years, and during this time, I have hated who I am, even gone as far as physically harming myself because it was easier than dealing with the feelings I was feeling. I have wanted to be anything but myself. What I’ve learned in my growth forward, is that denying who you are doesn’t heal you. Facing your emotions and feelings does.

That’s why I worry when 11-year-olds are encouraged to redefine themselves at the very start of puberty, an already naturally confusing stage of life. Too often, adults stop having real conversations with kids about identity, emotions, and learning to love themselves. Instead, we let children carry the weight of decisions they aren’t ready to make.

Men and women are designed differently and I agree with Charlie Kirk on that. But equality means valuing both differences and similarities without stripping away rights.

Women and Choice

Are women today miserable? 

I think many are. I’ll admit, when I was twelve years old, I dreamed of being a stay-at-home mom. I wanted to raise kids, be a wife, and manage a home. For a long time, I believed that was my only role.

But now that my kids are older, I’m realizing something important: I am more than just that. And that’s where choice matters. I should be allowed to decide to do more if I want to. That’s a part of feminism I agree with. The freedom to grow and change.

I still believe women are natural nurturers, and that after raising children, many of us continue to yearn to care for others. But I also know not every woman feels this way. My sister never wanted kids, and she should have the equal opportunity to become a CEO and earn the same pay as a man in that position.

At its best, feminism supports both paths: the woman who wants to stay home and the woman who wants to lead in the workplace.

Education and Science

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/f_iAD5p5sLU -Charlie Kirk Speaks Against LGBT Agenda in the Schools

The title of this clip is misleading, but...

I believe schools should teach the basic science behind sex. No opinions, no “options” about what you can do or be, just straightforward science and facts. Additional conversations should come from parents, but somewhere along the way, sex became shameful, and those conversations stopped happening at home. Even though I grew up in a loving, communicative family, I still didn’t get the education about sex that I think I should have had. That makes it even more important for me to talk openly with my own children now. Kids deserve accurate knowledge, not silence or shame.

Religion, Freedom, and Charlie Kirk

Here’s where I disagree with Kirk. In one of his videos, he criticized "American" children hearing the Muslim call to prayer. I cannot support that view. American children can be any religion, because they are born with the freedom to express their religion freely.

Human rights guarantee freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. That means:

• Everyone should be able to practice their religion freely.

• Schools should not promote one religion over another.

• Students should have the right to pray according to their faith, peacefully, in a designated space if needed.

  
  

No one should be forced into a religion, and no religion should be weaponized to divide people. Sadly, this is happening everywhere: Christianity in the U.S., Judaism and Islam in the Middle East, and others worldwide. Leaders use “divine authority” to justify politics, turning everything into “us vs. them.”

We should be saying instead: "I am Christian." "I am Muslim." "I am Jewish." "I am Atheist." "I am 'insert religion',” we may not agree on our religious beliefs, but we are united against extremism being forced on us.

As for the rest of the clip above, I don’t yet have enough knowledge about Marxism, Islamism, Wokeism, or Christendom to fully expand on my beliefs. Those are big topics that deserve more study before I weigh in. But they are absolutely subjects for another piece of writing and ones I plan to explore further.

Immigration

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_b_L_mQcSV4 - America is NOT a Nation of Immigrants

Charlie Kirk described a country as “borders, language, culture.” I understand what he means. A nation needs boundaries, a way to communicate, and a shared sense of belonging. But America’s story is more complicated than that.

The United States is both a settler nation and an immigrant nation. Colonizers displaced Native Americans, enslaved Africans were brought here against their will, and wave after wave of immigrants shaped the country we live in today. Our history has always been plural... multilingual, multiethnic, and evolving.

Here’s where I stand:

• Language: Having a primary established language is important for unity and communication, but it shouldn’t restrict anyone from being here. That said, without learning it, finding work will naturally be harder.

• Borders: Border security is 100% necessary. Every country in the world protects its borders... why would we want ours wide open?

• Culture: The beauty of America is that we don’t have just one culture. We have many. We can learn from one another and, over time, create a more united culture built from all the cultures that make up this country.

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By definition, a country is “a defined territory with its own independent government, a permanent population, and sovereignty over its land and people.” America fits that definition but what makes us unique is that our identity has never been fixed. To me, immigration should always be legal, safe, and fair, guided by human rights and balanced with the reality that America has always been shaped by those who arrive seeking something better. I do however believe that in order to achieve this, there has to be some major changes in the process.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/eA0JyRbNtbY - Black Privilege

This video is one I’m still researching. The way it was edited takes too much context out, and I don’t want to weigh in until I’ve seen the full original. For now, I’m leaving the race discussion aside, because it deserves careful handling and a fair look at the bigger picture.

Final Thoughts

Do I think Charlie Kirks beliefs are dangerous? No. I think he was a skilled debater who pushed his beliefs hard. He opens doors for discussions among students and young people, and that matters to me.

I also believe he was entitled to his opinion, just as you are, or your wife. What I don’t agree with is how quickly disagreement turns into personal attacks. I disagreed with your belief, asked questions, and was immediately attacked for it. That’s the real problem today. Too many of us get angry the second our beliefs are challenged.

But healthy debate requires openness. If someone can’t back their argument, that’s not a reason to lash out! It’s an opportunity to educate yourself, so next time you can defend your position or even evolve and grow in your knowledge.

At the end of the day, I don’t have to agree with Charlie Kirk to recognize his right to speak. Disagreement doesn’t make either of us automatically wrong.