The conversation shifted to the late podcaster’s dedication to celebrating the Sabbath on Friday evenings, with a particular focus on visits to her mother’s home. One keen observer on X, the platform previously known as Twitter, noted, “It’s interesting how Erika doesn’t mention Charlie’s parents as her in-laws. When Ainsley [Earhardt] inquires about Charlie’s parents, she swiftly redirects to discussing Charlie’s fondness for Sabbath dinners with her mom. Quite curious.” Another user speculated, “So, she quickly shifts away from discussing his parents, suggesting a lack of communication.”

Several others have remarked that Erika’s apparent distance from her in-laws isn’t a new development. As pointed out by an X user, she notably stood apart from Charlie’s parents during his posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony. The user questioned, “Why was she five feet away from them, comforted by political figures, while his father supported his mother, who seemed to cling to herself? It’s puzzling that she would stand with strangers rather than the family of the man who meant so much to her.”

Others pointed out that it wasn’t the first time Erika had seemed somewhat distant from her in-laws either. As one X user pointed out, she didn’t even stand next to Charlie’s parents during the ceremony for his posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom, asking, “She stood 5ft away from them at the medal honoring being comforted by political heavy hitters while his father was holding his mother and his mom was literally holding herself. Why would she stand with strangers and not her family of the woman that gave him life?” 

Whether there’s an underlying reason for Erika Kirk’s apparent disconnect with Charlie’s parents or a mutual desire to maintain privacy, the relationship appears to lack warmth. Only time will reveal if the former beauty queen chooses to address these perceptions.

Not everyone has been so quick to assume shadiness on her part, though. In fact, plenty of users questioned if Charlie’s parents are the ones who dislike their daughter-in-law. In response to a clip of Erika and her in-laws at the Presidential Medal of Honor ceremony, shared by the New York Post, a Facebook user commented, “It’s something so off putting to see his parents embracing one another and his wife being embraced by others […] Just doesn’t look like family to me. More like strangers mourning someone. As a mother-in-law there is no way I’d allow my daughter-in-law […] to not be wrapped in my arms as we lean on one another.”

Whether there’s a scandalous reason why Erika Kirk doesn’t seem to get on with Charlie’s parents, or if they’ve all gone about protecting their privacy the wrong way, things don’t seem to be especially chummy. Time will tell if the former pageant girl decides to address the situation.