Candace Owens and Erika Kirk have become central figures in a heated public dispute that has captivated conservative circles and beyond. What started as grief over the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk has turned into a bitter clash filled with accusations, leaked audio, and personal digs.
Owens, the outspoken podcaster, faces widespread criticism for pulling Kirk’s young children into the mix, sparking calls for her to back off. This story highlights the tensions within the right-wing media world, where personal loss meets online drama.
What Owens Said
Candace Owens has focused much of her recent podcast content on questioning details around Charlie Kirk’s death and Erika’s actions. In her February 2026 open letter to Erika, read publicly on her show, Owens addressed specific points from Erika’s interviews and statements.
She questioned why Erika had Charlie sleep in their daughter’s room the night before the event to help him rest, calling the arrangement backwards and saying she would have taken the child’s room instead to prioritize her husband’s sleep.
Owens described the children as “sleep-trained toddlers” while analyzing the timeline and family dynamics that night. She pointed to the daughter’s room as part of her doubts about Erika’s account, suggesting inconsistencies in the story of Charlie’s rest and the events leading up to September 10, 2025.
“These are sleep-trained toddlers.”
Candace Owens is now dragging Charlie Kirk’s children into this.
On just a human decency level, how can anybody still defend this? pic.twitter.com/1j6yUK2kWe
— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) February 12, 2026
Owens also raised questions about other family-related details, like why the kids were pulled from school days earlier and a missing wedding photo from a display, tying these to broader suspicions of what happened.
These comments came in episodes where Owens continued to express that she does not believe Tyler Robinson acted alone in the killing. She framed her remarks as seeking clarity and truth, often linking them to her past professional relationship with Charlie from her time at Turning Point USA.
This drama has split opinions in the conservative world. Some back Owens, seeing her as a truth-seeker unafraid to ask tough questions. They argue she’s just piecing together public details to challenge the official story. But many others, including figures like Michael Knowles and Ian Miles Cheong, call it unhinged and harmful.
Public figures have weighed in too. Laura Loomer called Owens’ behavior “beyond depraved” and pushed for legal action. Online, reactions range from shock to calls for harassment charges. One user posted, “This is the grossest thing I’ve ever seen… It crosses EVERY LINE.” Another noted Owens seems obsessed, perhaps jealous of Erika’s role. The feud highlights bigger issues, like how personal grief mixes with public politics and conspiracy culture.
The Backstory of The Feud
Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot on September 10, 2025, during an event at Utah Valley University. Authorities arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson in connection with the killing.
Kirk left behind his wife, Erika, and their two young children: a son born in 2022 and a daughter born in 2024. Erika stepped up as CEO of Turning Point USA, focusing on her husband’s legacy, including promoting his posthumous book while navigating single parenthood.
Candace Owens, who worked at Turning Point USA from 2017 to 2019 and shared a close professional bond with Charlie, initially expressed deep sorrow. But soon, her podcast episodes shifted to skepticism about the official account. She suggested Robinson might not have acted alone, pointing to possible betrayals by people close to Kirk and even hinting at international involvement from entities like Israel or France.
These claims drew millions of views, boosting Owens’ audience to over 5.6 million YouTube subscribers and 7.5 million followers on X. Erika, meanwhile, prioritized stability for the organization and her family. She publicly supported the Second Amendment, stating her husband’s death stemmed from evil, not guns. The contrast in their approaches set the stage for conflict, as Owens’ theories began targeting those around Charlie, including Erika.
What To Expect Going Forward
The feud shows no signs of slowing down as of mid-February 2026. Owens has escalated further, calling for Erika to be questioned by police over what she describes as contradictions and a possible cover-up. Owens also criticized Turning Point USA events, like their Super Bowl halftime show, claiming inflated viewership numbers and ongoing internal issues.
Erika has stayed focused on leading the organization, with no public direct replies to the latest rounds of attacks. The divide continues to split conservative influencers, with some defending Owens’ pursuit of answers and others seeing it as harmful obsession. This saga could drag on through more podcast episodes, potential lawsuits, or organizational fallout at Turning Point USA.
For now, Erika appears committed to her role and family privacy, while Owens keeps releasing content that keeps the controversy alive. The conservative community watches closely to see if any resolution emerges or if the personal attacks intensify further.
What do you think?
