Erika Kirk is going viral again. On Thursday, November 6, Erika was honored with the inaugural Charlie Kirk Legacy Award at the Fox Nation Patriot Awards. The award was created in honor of her late husband, Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist who was assassinated on September 10, 2025.
Country star Jason Aldean and his wife, Brittany Aldean, introduced the Turning Point USA CEO as “the woman who refuses to surrender” while presenting the award.
As soon as Erika stepped on stage, she hugged both Aldeans for an unusually long period before delivering her acceptance speech. Even though she embraced both of them, it was the hug with Jason that had everyone talking. In the viral clip, Erika can be seen gently rubbing Jason’s back while Brittany watches from behind. Many observers on social media claimed that Brittany did not seem enthusiastic about the interaction.
Here’s Erika Kirk giving a hug to Jason Aldean’s wife the same way she hugged VP JD Vance. Maybe the white liberals think that they’re sleeping together too! pic.twitter.com/xJEX9ME1Ng
— @R I P (@RIPWITHTHELORD) November 7, 2025
Users on TikTok criticized Erika for being “too touchy-feely” with a married man. “Why does she only hug men — and married men at that?” one fan wrote. “Why not just a handshake?” asked another. “Well, not to defend fake Erika, but Jason could’ve pulled back…” added a third. “Omg, is she cheating on JD Vance?” joked a fourth.
Erika’s similar hug with Vice President JD Vance at a Turning Point USA event at the University of Mississippi on October 29 also went viral. Erika turned heads by running her fingers through Vance’s hair and cupping the back of his head during their lengthy embrace. The video immediately caused a stir online, with many debating whether the two were merely friends.
Is this The Turning Point for Erika Kirk? Looks like the grieving widow has moved on! That’s more than a friendly hug…that’s an intimate embrace! Will Usha Vance send JD to the confessional? pic.twitter.com/QoMdFpsU6B
— Annie (@AnnieForTruth) October 31, 2025
After the Aldean video made rounds online, people observed that Erika also placed Brittany’s head in her hands while they hugged on stage. Some even argued that she did it to divert attention from her interaction with Vance.
Erika delivered an acceptance speech in honor of her late husband at the Patriot Awards, even though it was the onstage hug that made headlines.
“He never fled from the spiritual battle that’s ahead — and we all know it. We all feel the spiritual warfare; this whole room feels it,” she said of Charlie’s mission. “This whole nation feels the spiritual warfare. But Charlie would say, that’s how you know you’re over the mark — when you feel it, when the enemy is there. That’s how you know you’re doing the Lord’s work.”
JUST IN 🚨 Erika Kirk walks out in tears in shock at what she is seeing, filled with emotion. Pray for her
Erika Kirk is the strongest person I know
WE LOVE YOU CHARLIE KIRK ❤️ pic.twitter.com/s4rxpavaq3
— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) September 21, 2025
This isn’t the first time Erika has been trolled for her online appearance. A few months back, social media reacted to a photo of Erika Kirk crying mid-interview with Fox News’ Jesse Watters. The image that went viral showed Erika visibly upset, with one hand placed on her chest as she appeared to be on the verge of tears.
In the interview, she was explaining to her children that their father was no more. An X user named Political Punk sparked it all with a harsh post that said, “I haven’t seen crying this fake since the Rittenhouse trial. Holy shit, this woman is a grifter.”
Alongside this was the now-famous screenshot of Erika crying, which provoked a range of responses. The trolls varied from meme-style mockery to intense conspiracy theories about whether she was genuinely crying or simply performing for the audience.
